Popular names: Zhalyuga, zhguchka.
NETTLE (Urtica dioica L.)Perennial herbaceous plant of the nettle family (Urticaceae), up to 2 m high, with a longish thin creeping, woody rhizome and thin roots at the nodes. The whole plant is covered with long, hard, stinging and short, simple hairs. There is a lot of silicon in the walls of the hairs, which makes them brittle, and from them, even with light contact, burning acid is released onto the skin (the burning of nettles is due to the content of caustic formic acid and histamine in the tips of the hairs). The stem is erect, tetrahedral, simple, rarely with opposite branches in the upper part. The leaves are opposite, on long petioles, oblong-ovate, pointed, heart-shaped at the base, coarsely serrate along the edge. The flowers are small, green, collected in inflorescences, located in the axils of the upper leaves; women’s – in drooping earrings, male – in erect spikes. Pollinated by the wind. With early mowing, regrowth and secondary flowering are observed. The fruit is an ovoid or elliptical, yellowish-gray nutlet. The mass of 1000 seeds is 0.18-0.26 g. It blooms from mid-June to September, the fruits ripen in July-September. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Widely distributed in all regions of the CIS, with the exception of the Far North, but more often and in large numbers found in the forest-steppe and southern forest regions of the European part of the CIS. Grows on fertile fresh, moist and damp soils in alder forests, on the outskirts of low-lying swamps, in shrubs, within housing, in garbage places, pastures, in glades. The greatest density of nettle thickets on humus-rich soils. Among the Russian people, nettle was famous as a sure remedy against evil spirits – witches and mermaids. Therefore, bunches of nettles were hung on Ivan Kupala in the stables. According to popular belief, mermaids and witches are most afraid of aspen and nettles. The Sunday following Trinity Day is called the “Rusal Charm”, or “Nettle Charm”. On this day, to protect against mermaids, it is customary to whip each other with nettles. The Estonian folk name for nettles, “bachelor’s kiss”, as it were, personifies everything that is burning and caustic. Modern folk medicine also widely uses this plant. “One nettle replaces seven doctors,” says folk wisdom. According to popular belief, mermaids and witches are most afraid of aspen and nettles. The Sunday following Trinity Day is called the “Rusal Charm”, or “Nettle Charm”. On this day, to protect against mermaids, it is customary to whip each other with nettles. The Estonian folk name for nettles, “bachelor’s kiss”, as it were, personifies everything that is burning and caustic. Modern folk medicine also widely uses this plant. “One nettle replaces seven doctors,” says folk wisdom. According to popular belief, mermaids and witches are most afraid of aspen and nettles. The Sunday following Trinity Day is called the “Rusal Charm”, or “Nettle Charm”. On this day, to protect against mermaids, it is customary to whip each other with nettles. The Estonian folk name for nettles, “bachelor’s kiss”, as it were, personifies everything that is burning and caustic. Modern folk medicine also widely uses this plant. “One nettle replaces seven doctors,” says folk wisdom. The popular Estonian name for nettle “bachelor’s kiss” seems to personify everything burning and caustic. Many Roman authors have information about the healing properties of nettle dioica – Galen, Horace, Pliny, Catullus. Modern folk medicine also widely uses this plant. “One nettle replaces seven doctors,” says folk wisdom. The popular Estonian name for nettle “bachelor’s kiss” seems to personify everything burning and caustic. Many Roman authors have information about the healing properties of nettle dioica – Galen, Horace, Pliny, Catullus. Modern folk medicine also widely uses this plant. “One nettle replaces seven doctors,” says folk wisdom.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
Nettle leaves are used as medicinal raw materials. The main preparations of nettle leaves are carried out in May – July, since later some of the leaves, especially the lower ones, wither. Usually nettle stalks are cut with a sickle or knife, and a few hours after cutting, when the leaves stop burning, they are cut off. On larger and cleaner thickets, nettles are mowed, slightly dried, and then the leaves are cut off. In a day in large thickets of nettles, 70-100 kg of raw leaf can be harvested. Nettle leaves are dried in attics or under awnings, spreading them out on paper or on fabric with a layer no thicker than 3-5 cm. Drying in the sun is not allowed, as it leads to discoloration of raw materials and destruction of vitamins. During artificial drying, the heating temperature of the leaves is not more than 50 ° C. The shelf life of the leaves is 2 years. The roots are also harvested, which are dug in the fall. They are shaken off the ground, washed in cold water and dried in dryers, ovens. The shelf life of the roots is 3 years.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
The amount of active ingredients, mainly vitamins and iron salts, normalizes lipid metabolism in the body. Nettle preparations have pronounced hemostatic properties, which is associated with the presence of vitamin K in the leaves of the plant, which stimulates the production of one of the most important blood coagulation factors, prothrombin, in the liver. However, only fresh nettle leaves have a hemostatic effect (dried leaves do not have such an effect, but, on the contrary, slow down the process of blood clotting by about 2 times). In addition, dosage forms of nettle have choleretic, anti-inflammatory properties and increase the processes of regeneration of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, and also have a vasoconstrictive effect. Chlorophyll, contained in large quantities in the plant, has a stimulating and tonic effect, enhances the basic metabolism, also increases the muscle tone of the uterus and intestines, improves the activity of the cardiovascular system and the respiratory center; stimulates granulation and epithelialization of affected tissues.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Roots. Infusions, tinctures, decoctions – for diseases of the kidneys, stomach, diarrhea, dysentery, helminthiasis, furunculosis, rheumatism, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, also as an expectorant, anti-febrile, anti-cancer agent and to strengthen hair. Leaves. The dry extract is included in the Allohol product. Liquid extract, infusion – for uterine, intestinal, renal, pulmonary and other bleeding. In folk medicine, decoction, fresh juice, dry powder are also used for the same purposes. In addition, they are used for nephritis, rheumatism, pulmonary tuberculosis, rickets, polymenorrhea, fibroids, acute and chronic enterocolitis, gastric diseases, jaundice, diabetes mellitus (water infusion and decoction), epilepsy, hysteria, paralysis; as an antiseptic for the treatment of wounds and chronic ulcers; as a means to strengthen hair; as a diuretic, anti-febrile, expectorant, lactogenic, tonic, multivitamin. Fresh leaves, powder are applied to bleeding wounds, ulcers, fistulas that do not heal for a long time. In Japanese folk medicine, fresh juice is used as an antidote for bee and snake stings, and as a disinfectant. Inflorescences. Used for nettle fever. Infusion – for rheumatism, kidney stones, cancer, chronic skin diseases, also as an expectorant, diuretic, antimalarial agent. Seeds. With kidney stone disease, dysentery, helminthiasis. Decoction – for coughing, insomnia. also as a disinfectant. Inflorescences. Used for nettle fever. Infusion – for rheumatism, kidney stones, cancer, chronic skin diseases, also as an expectorant, diuretic, antimalarial agent. Seeds. With kidney stone disease, dysentery, helminthiasis. Decoction – for coughing, insomnia. also as a disinfectant. Inflorescences. Used for nettle fever. Infusion – for rheumatism, kidney stones, cancer, chronic skin diseases, also as an expectorant, diuretic, antimalarial agent. Seeds. With kidney stone disease, dysentery, helminthiasis. Decoction – for coughing, insomnia.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Nettle leaf infusion (Infusum folii Urticae): 10 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, heated in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cooled at room temperature for 45 minutes, squeezed, the volume is adjusted boiled water up to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/4-1/2 cup 3-5 times every day before meals as a hemostatic agent. Nettle extract liquid (Extractum Urticae fluidum) is an alcoholic extract from a nettle leaf in 70% ethyl alcohol. Assign with the same indications 25-30 drops 3 times every day 30 minutes before meals. Nettle leaf briquettes (Bricetum folii Urticae). One slice is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 10 minutes, filtered, cooled. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times every day. Allocholum contains nettle extract along with garlic extract, dry animal bile and activated charcoal. Taken as a choleretic and laxative, 3-6 tablets every day. ♦ Decoction of nettle roots: 20 g of raw materials are boiled in 200 ml of sugar syrup or honey for 15 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times every day. ♦ Juice from nettle leaves: juice of fresh young leaves take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day before meals for cholelithiasis and urolithiasis; 1 teaspoon 4-5 times daily for internal bleeding. ♦ Nettle leaf juice: squeezed from April to September. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times every day. ♦ Decoction of nettle seeds: pour 25 g of raw material into 200 ml of water, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour, then filter and add honey or sugar to taste. Accepted at night. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Nettle products are contraindicated in people with increased blood clotting, with hypertension and atherosclerosis, and should not be used for bleeding caused by cysts, polyps and other tumors of the uterus and its appendages. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. nettle products are contraindicated in people with increased blood clotting, with hypertension and atherosclerosis, and they should not be used for bleeding caused by cysts, polyps and other tumors of the uterus and its appendages. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. nettle products are contraindicated in people with increased blood clotting, with hypertension and atherosclerosis, and they should not be used for bleeding caused by cysts, polyps and other tumors of the uterus and its appendages. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. also, they should not be used for bleeding caused by cysts, polyps and other tumors of the uterus and its appendages. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. also, they should not be used for bleeding caused by cysts, polyps and other tumors of the uterus and its appendages. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. Particular care is needed when prescribing nettle to patients with kidney disease. * Poisoning of farm animals is observed. Pigs are poisoned more often, especially when they are fed stale boiled nettles, when nitrous acid and nitrogen oxides appear in it. Symptoms of poisoning: animals are depressed, do not eat food. They have muscle tremors, vomiting, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. pallor of mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue. pallor of mucous membranes and skin, convulsions. Sick animals are injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (emetic), cardiac agents, intravenously – methylene blue.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Roots stain fabrics yellow. The fiber of the stems is suitable for the manufacture of paper, ropes, ropes, burlap, fishing tackle, sails, and carpets. The fibrous layer is 10.4%, the length of the elementary fiber of the nettle is approximately 25-30 mm, the thickness is 0.02-0.04 mm. Young shoots and leaves are used as food for cooking all kinds of dishes. Leaves protect perishable products from rotting. An edible oil is obtained from the seeds. Pigment chlorophyll – in perfumery, food and pharmaceutical industries, also for dyeing fabrics green. Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the roots. Feed for large and small cattle, pigs, horses, birds. Nettle tops or seeds steamed with bran are excellent food for chickens, from which they rush all winter. Nettle fodder flour is well eaten by any animals, especially in the form of additives to compound feeds. Such additives increase the milk fat content, give good weight gain and protect against infectious diseases. The yield of leaves in the Belarusian Polissya is up to 3 tons of dry raw materials per 1 ha. Stinging nettle is not cultivated for medical purposes, but it is beginning to be grown within poultry farms and enterprises that obtain chlorophyll from nettles.
TASTY TIPS
Salad “Joy”.
Processed nettle leaves (20 g), sorted and washed parsley (20 g), dill (20 g), green onions (20 g), sorrel (20 g) finely chopped, add chopped garlic (2 g), salt (according to taste), season with vegetable oil (8 g).
Nettle salad with nuts.
Washed leaves (200 g) are placed in boiling water for 5 minutes, then put in a colander and chopped. Crushed walnut kernels (25 g) dilute in a nettle broth (1/4 cup), add vinegar, mix and fill the nettle with the resulting mixture. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley and onion.
Nettle salad with egg.
Boil washed leaves (150 g) in water for 5 minutes, put in a colander, chop, season with salt, vinegar, decorate with slices of hard-boiled eggs, pour sour cream (20 g).
Shchi green with nettle.
Boil young nettles (150 g) in water for 3 minutes, drain in a colander, pass through a meat grinder and simmer with fat (10 g) for 10-15 minutes. Sauté finely chopped carrots (5 g), parsley (5 g) and onions (20 g) in fat. In boiling broth or water (600-700 ml), put nettles, browned vegetables and cook for 20-25 minutes. 10 minutes before readiness, add sorrel (50 g), green onions (15 g), bay leaf, pepper and salt (to taste). When serving, season with sour cream (15 g).
Nettle and potato soup.
Put young nettles (250 g) for 2 minutes in boiling water (700 ml), put in a colander, finely chop and simmer with fat (20 g) for 10 minutes. Grind and sauté carrots (10 g) and onions (80 g). In a boiling broth, dip the sliced \u200b\u200bpotatoes (200 g); after the broth boils again, add nettles, carrots and onions. 5-10 minutes before readiness, put sorrel greens (120 g). When serving, put slices of hard-boiled eggs and sour cream (20 g) on a plate.
Armenian nettle soup.
In a boiling broth (400 ml), put prepared rice (10 g), finely chopped onions (10 g), bring to a boil, add coarsely chopped potatoes (30 g). 10 minutes before the end of cooking put chopped young nettle (50 g), salt, spices. When serving, sprinkle the soup with herbs.
Botvinya homemade.
Prepared spinach (30 g), young nettle (30 g) and sorrel (50 g) separately, wipe, dilute with kvass (350 ml), add salt (2 g), sugar (5 g). Boiled fish, slices of fresh cucumbers, chopped green onions, grated horseradish, lettuce served separately.
Nettle pudding.
Grind greens of young nettle (100 g), spinach (200 g) and quinoa (50 g) and stew with milk or sour cream (30-40 g) until soft. Add egg powder (5-8 g), breadcrumbs (25 g), granulated sugar (3-5 g) and salt (2 g) to the finished greens, mix everything thoroughly, put the mass into a saucepan greased with butter and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
Nettle balls.
Put nettle (100 g) in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, put in a colander, chop, mix with thick wheat porridge (200 g), add fat (20 g) and salt (to taste), form meatballs from the resulting mass and fry them.
Nettle omelet.
Boil nettles (500 g) in salted water, put in a colander and chop. Add finely chopped dill or parsley (4 sprigs) to fried on ghee (3 tablespoons) (3 tablespoons), add finely chopped dill or parsley (4 sprigs), mix with nettle and simmer until soft, then pour over beaten eggs (2 pcs.) And keep on fire until tender .
Nettle stewed with cheese.
Simmer chopped nettle (80 g) for 5 minutes, add chopped green onions (10 g), salt, pepper, flour, grated cheese (30 g), simmer in melted butter (15 g) for 5 minutes. Pour the omelet mixture into the same dish (milk – 65 ml, wheat flour – 20 g, egg – 1/2 pc.) And bake in the oven.
Salted nettle.
Wash young leaves and shoots, chop, put in glass jars, sprinkling layers of greens with salt (50 g per 1 kg of greens).
Nettle juice.
Pass the young nettle through a meat grinder, add cold boiled water (500 ml), mix, squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. Pass the remaining marc again through a meat grinder, dilute with water (500 ml), squeeze out the juice and combine with the first portion. Pour the juice into half-liter jars, pasteurize at a temperature of 65-70°C for 15 minutes, close with boiled polyethylene lids. Store in a cool place.
Trio cocktail.
Combine nettle juice (200 ml), horseradish (200 ml) and onion (15 ml), add food ice (2 cubes) and salt (to taste).
Stuffing for pies from nettle.
Pour boiling water over young nettles (1 kg) for 5 minutes, drain in a colander, chop, mix with boiled rice or sago (100 g) and chopped hard-boiled eggs (5 pcs.).