Nature Hills Gardening Community

I know that many people might frown, when I claim that the Common Stinging Nettle is a very useful and versatile herb. So often discarded as an annoying weed, the Stinging Nettle has many beneficial properties. Especially, when it comes to hair care. It is known to improve hair shine, encourage hair growth, and in some case, even combat hair loss. I myself have tried my own, home-made recipe of Stinging Nettle Hair-Rinse-Tonic and found it to be very effective, as it seems to have stimulated my hair growth (...I've always wanted long hair...).

Rheumatism is yet another ailment for the relief of which, the Common Stinging Nettle has been applied in it's natural form, apparently very successfully.

Young Stinging Nettle leaves are also said to be very nutricious and nourishing, when prepared in a salad or simply as a vegetable. I havn't tried it yet, so I can't comment on it's taste, but whatever you do, never forget to wear your garden gloves when you handle this welcome/unwelcome visitor to your garden.

Maria,

Great information, I was totally unaware. Thank you for enlightening me!

I was doing some research on another plant and ran across an interesting tidbit on nettles. The nettle (Urtica dioica) is hailed as a soil builder; it's nitrogen-rich foliage decomposes to form humus building up your soil. Maybe an old farmers story but I read if nettle is present on the land, plant there as the soil will be fertile.