Gathering Nettle Seeds
Every part of the stinging nettle offers some benefit to mankind.
Being rich in vitamins and minerals, nettles are a highly valuable food item. Evidence unearthed from Bronze age sites shows that people have been using them to make cloth for almost 3,000 years. Oil from freshly crushed nettle seeds can be used in lamps. The fibres have even been used to make paper and bank notes.
Here in Cornwall, nettles are used in the production of a traditional cheese known as Cornish Yarg. Named after the farmers who found the recipe for a nettle-wrapped, semi-hard cheese in their attic, Yarg is made according to the original method which is thought to date back to the 13th century.
If nettles didn’t sting, I’m almost certain humans would have pillaged the plant into extinction by now.
Although much has been written about the use of nettle roots and leaves, the seeds are often overlooked. This is a great shame, as they’re much easier to gather, and have powerful medicinal properties that can be made into inexpensive (yet very effective,) medicines.
If you live in the UK, now’s a really good time to harvest nettle seeds, but you do have to know what to look out for.
The botanical name Urtica dioica gives us some clues:
Urtica is derived from the Latin and it means “to sting”. The specific name dioica is derived from the Greek meaning “of two houses,” this is because the plant is dioecious (i.e. it has separate male and female plants.) It’s the seeds from the female plants that contain the oils needed for medicine making.
Male & female nettle plants; how to tell the difference
Both male and female plants have similar looking flower clusters hanging down from their stems. However, male plants appear much stringier and point outwards, unlike the female seed pods which droop down like heavily-laden catkins.
The pictures below should help to illustrate the difference:
A sensible word of caution:
*Picking or consuming stinging nettles is not recommended for people who suffer from severe allergies. Although nettles are an extremely safe plant to work with, a small number of people have been known to develop an allergic reaction after being stung. If you’re at all unsure then don’t pick!
The health benefits of nettle seeds
Tea made with nettle seeds was traditionally rubbed into the scalp to kill head lice. In fact, I once shared this story with a client who adapted the recipe and used it on her pets with good success.
Nettle tea imparts a glossy sheen to dark hair. In the past, horse traders would feed nettle seed to their animals a few weeks before selling them. It’s reported to have made them sprightly, and added lustre to their coats and manes.
Nettle seeds are an excellent source of protein and essential fatty acids. They can be added to smoothies, homemade energy bars and cacao balls, or used in any recipe in which spinach is called for. I’ve also used them to make a nutritious herbal salt which is delicious sprinkled over roast potatoes.
This week I’ve been making nettle seed and rosemary oil for the relief of sore and aching joints.
Paid subscribers can read (or listen to,) the full step by step process here.
Other news
This week Newquay Orchard welcomed HRH Duke of Cornwall to see how the project has grown over the last seven years. Clients who come to see me for herbal consultations will already know what a beautiful space this is. The lavender and rosemary on the pathway leading towards the community growing space looked (and smelled,) especially exquisite in the sunshine. It was almost as if the plants knew to expect an important visitor.
I’m very fortunate indeed have permission to harvest herbs for medicines from this very special place. It’s nice to know I’m gardening (and healing) in good company :)
Walks and workshops
The next Wild Medicine Walk through the beautiful Vale of Lanherne will take place on Saturday 27th August.
Our off grid plant walk follows the ancient Saint’s Way, and is a combination of herbal folklore, facts, plant identification, story-telling, and drinking in the sounds of nature. By the end of the morning you should be able to confidently identify a number of common medicinal plants. The digital resources which accompany the session are filled with projects, recipes and further resources to help you connect with the plants even more deeply once you return home.
Here’s what participants have to say about it:
“It was delightful to wander through the woods, listening to the wisdom of nature and sharing ancient knowledge.”
“It was so peaceful to sit in the sunshine and listen to the sounds of nature for a while before reconnecting with the world again.”
“The little pit stop for tea was delightful. There was also a beautiful drum ceremony at the end which was a magical way to end the morning.”
There are still a few spaces left if you’d like to join us.
That’s all for now. I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s newsletter and found something of interest to think about. Please do feel free to share it with another human you think might like it.