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Nettles, sometimes called stinging nettles are either perennial or annual herbs that have leaves
covered with nearly invisible stinging hairs. These fibers cause stinging pain, with associated skin irritation and
redness. You may wonder what good these plants could possibly provide. In fact, they are good for a number of
ailments. Nettle tea weight loss is just one of the benefits that you can get by using the
leaves. Once the leaves are cooked, they no longer sting and raise blisters or bumps on the skin. In addition to
weight loss, nettles can help provide vitamin C and E and several minerals including potassium, silica, iron,
magnesium and calcium.
If you choose to gather the nettle plants yourself, you can usually find them growing in the same locations each
year. The plants like moist woodland settings, areas where habitats have been disturbed, rich soil, beside shady
trails, along river banks, and in thickets where the shade is available. Most areas in the United States have
common stinging nettles examples. If you decide to harvest the plants, be sure to protect hands, arms, feet and
legs against the possibility of brushing against the plants. The resulting itching and burning can ruin an outing
very quickly.
Nettle tea is made from the stems and upper leaves of the Urtica dioca plant. It is perhaps best known as a
diuretic. An infusion of nettles can also be linked to relief from hay fever, asthma, eczema, PMS, and high blood
pressure. Nettles are also effective as an astringent. As a weight loss tool, nettle tea is helpful in getting rid
of water, thanks to its diuretic properties. It also contains vitamins and minerals that are important in
strengthening and promoting health of bones, muscles and nerves. Arthritis, gout, broken bones and painful joints
are all helped by nettles.
Nettle Benefits / Nettle Tea Benefite / Benefits of
Nettle
The nettle grows as a hollow stemmed, ribbed, thick plant that is nearly four feet in height
when full grown. The leaves are dark green and somewhat oval shaped. The stalk is long and the leaves placed at
opposite points. The texture is papery and rough with coarse teeth. The tip of the leaf is pointed and the base is
heart shaped. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The female flowers are tiny and green. They hang in
paired strands from the leaf axil, appearing by late spring. Only the upper leaves and stems are harvested for
making the helpful tea.
Since stinging nettle is found in many parts of the world, it is easy to find, harvest and dry yourself. The leaves
can be dried and used in a tea, or they can be added directly to the boiling water. Once it is in the hot water,
the stinging hair is deactivated and the tea no longer is a danger to unprotected skin. You won't end up with
stinging and burning blisters in your mouth and digestive passages. If you don't want to gather the plants yourself
and run the risk of getting stung, you can easily purchase nettle teabags. Someone else has packaged the dried
nettle leaves.
Commercial nettle preparations are sold in teabags, they can also be packaged in tinctures, capsules, extracts or
concentrated drops. You can enjoy stinging nettles as a tea. You can also sprinkle the dried leaves on salads, mix
with soups or as a topping for vegetables. Preparation of the leaves is through drying or freeze drying. The
product is found in most health food stores or in online boutiques and stores. Because the dried leaves keep well,
you can store them indefinitely, but you can also use them fresh from the harvest.
Nettle tea is enjoying a new popularity as a beneficial drink. Those who are familiar with natural remedies
probably knew about the benefits available from drinking nettle tea. It is useful for skin problems such as acne,
and for treatment of scurvy, thanks to the vitamin C. Excessive bleeding during menstrual cycles and water
retention leading to bloating can be eased by drinking nettle tea. In men, the tea can help to reduce and end
prostate problems. The tea is rich in sterols, an ingredient that helps to decrease the action of DHT, a
testosterone linked to prostrate enlargement.
The tea is used to serve as an antihistamine. This reduces the level of sinus blockage and stuffed up nose that is
a result of hay fever. It's anti inflammatory qualities make it helpful in fighting sinus infections. An infusion
of the tea will help to clean out the intestinal tract. Intestinal worms and bacteria can be expelled from the
body. Urinary tract infections can be improved by drinking the tea, as can asthma, phlegm and tuberculosis of the
lungs. With its ability to improve muscle and tissue, nettle tea can help to prevent leg spasms and muscle cramps.
Some native American women used nettle tea during pregnancy and after to slow the blood loss following the birth of
the infant.
Nettle tea is helpful in weight loss in a couple different ways. First, the tea is a good diuretic. When you drink
the tea regularly, the kidneys are assisted in excreting more water. Water expelled from the system means weight
reduction.
Nettle tea has been used to reduce kidney stones. As an appetite reducer, the tea
is useful for a weight loss tool. When you are not hungry, you don't eat as much. When you eat less, you will
ingest fewer calories and with fewer calories your weight is likely to go down.
Drinking several cups of the tea daily will help you to feel full. This is another path to nettle tea weight loss.
The appetite is dulled by drinking more water. At the same time, the tea is providing necessary vitamins and
minerals to make your overall health better. With so many positive benefits from this plant, it is not too
surprising that it has become popular in many applications. Strengthening of blood cells and the formation of new
cells means better health throughout the entire system.
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