Silk of the North: Nettles ??? A Botanical History

Nettles were regularly used in medical remedies in the past. The leaves of the plant were primarily employed to treat a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, but sometimes nettle seeds and roots also found their way into medicinal cures. If you were experiencing conditions ranging from rheumatism to poisoning a few centuries ago, a doctor or apothecary likely would have recommended some part of the nettle plant as a potential remedy. The juice extracted from the leaves was used to stop nose-bleeds and ease coughs. Nettle’s diuretic and astringent properties made it the ideal herbal cure for both digestive and kidney issues as well as scurvy. Nettle roots were used to treat asthma and epilepsy, and a strong tea prepared from them was used to treat jaundice or as a gargle for sore throats.

Click Here