As a Virgo, the beginning of Spring always feels like a new year to me. I love to watch the unfolding as Papatūānuku wakes from hibernation, new growth appears, and then the flowers bloom. One plant growing in abundance on my family’s property at this time is stinging nettle.

Considered a weed by many, stinging nettle actually holds many health benefits including being anti-inflammatory, a natural detox, and regulating a women’s cycle. Stinging nettle is a great daily tonic. It’s high in iron, alongside vitamin c (which will help your body to absorb the iron). It also contains calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, D and K and zinc! I first started taking stinging nettle combined with raspberry leaf as tea when I was pregnant. The combination of stinging nettle and red raspberry leaf helps with blood flow and raise iron levels during pregnancy (a woman needs much more iron when she is pregnant). These herbs reduce pain and the risk of hemorrhage during childbirth, they also strengthen the blood vessels, which reduces the risk of hemorrhoids, and increases the amount of breast milk a mother produces.

This earthy tasting herb is best picked at the beginning of Spring before it goes into flower. Yes, stinging nettle will sting you! But the sting goes away in a couple of hours’ time. Wear some decent thick gloves when you harvest stinging nettle! Using scissors or secateurs, cut just above a set of leaves (the rest of the plant can regrow). Once you have your harvest of stinging nettle give it a good wash in cold water, allow them to air dry in a drying rack or hang them up to dry (so the stinging nettle can breathe). When the stinging nettle is dry pick off the leaves and discard the rest to compost.

Once you’ve got the stinging nettle leaves prepared they can be made into a tea (from fresh or dried leaves), cooked into your meals or infused in oil. Don’t worry stinging nettle loses its sting when it’s cooked or dried. Don’t eat it raw. If you’re cooking with stinging nettle treat it similar to your dark leafy greens. Stinging nettle can be made into soups, curries, pasta, or rice dishes. Personally, I like it as a soup with butter, leek, potatoes and a side of garlic bread.

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