Nettles - Once You Get Past the Sting, They Make a Fabulous Hair Tonic!

Common Names: Common nettles, common stinging nettle, great stinging nettle, stinging nettle.

Medicinal Part: The plant

Description: Stinging nettle is a perennial plant found all over the world. In the U.S. it grows in waste places and gardens and along roadsides, fences and walls.

Properties and Uses: Astgringent, diuretic, galactagogue, hemostatic, tonic. The fresh jujice or an infusion of the nettle plant has been used to stiimulate th digestive system and to promote milk flow in nursing mothers. As an astringent it is also used for blood in the urine, hemorrhoids, and excessive menstrual flow. Nettle is a helpful remedy for for ailments of the urinary tract and is said to reduce susceptibility to rheumatic problems and colds. A decoction of the plant is good for diarrhea. A decoction of the root is recommended for external use on the scalp for loss of hair. *

Nettle can also be eaten as a vegetable, but old plants must be thoroughly cooked to be safe. CAUTION: Do not eat old plants uncooked; they can produce kidney damage and symptoms of poisoning. The bristly hairs of the nettle plant act like a hypodermic, injecting an irritant under the skin when touched. Handle with care!

General: In hair shampoos and rinses
Culinary: As vegetable or soup
Medical: Arthritis, eczema, anemia.

Nettles grow wherever human beings disturb the land. Although we may curse the nettle for its sting, it is invaluable as a food, rich in vitamins and minerals, and as a medicine. In spring, the fresh green leaves may be cooked and eaten like spinach, made into a delicious soup or drunk as a tea.

Nettles make a valuable tonic after the long winter months for they provide one of the best sources of minerals. They are an excellent remedy for anemia; their vitamin C content ensures that the iron they contain is properly absorbed.

Nettles has long been one of my favorite herbs. Once you get past the stinging part, they make a fabulous hair tonic that virtually eliminates hair breakage (a problem that always gets worse for me the longer my hair becomes.) This tonic also helps to reduce the appearance of grey hair, and serves as an excellent de-tangler.

Hair Tonic Ingredients: Fresh or dried herbs may be used. By all means, feel free to use tea bags for any of these herbs.

Nettles
Rosemary
*Sage (For Dark Hair)
*Chamomile (For Blond or Red Hair)
Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions:
Fill a medium sized pot with water, throw in a few handfulss of: Nettles, Rosemary and Sage. This is for dark hair. Substitute chamomile for sage if you have blond or red hair. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce heat and allow the herbs to steep for an hour or so. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth or a non-printed paper towel. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to tonic.

Storage:
While this is a great hair tonic, it does not contain any preservatives and the bulk of it should be stored in the refrigerator.

Usage:
Purchase a small to medium sized spray bottle and fill with tonic. Wash hair normally, towel dry, then thoroughly spray tonic onto hair and comb out. Do not rinse out the tonic. The slight vinegar smell will disappear within a few minutes.

Within a week you will notice a dramatic improvement in the shine, texture and strength of your hair.