Nettle tea: Nature’s secret weapon
If you have ever hiked in to the forest, you learn right away to avoid nettles like the plague. The leaves of the nettle, which are shaped like hearts pack a serious punch by using almost undetectable hairs that cause people who brush against them to have painful, red and inflamed skin. But Mother Nature didn’t create these plants simply to cause pain; remarkably, just drying out the nettle leaves (use gloves when handling them!) and making them in to a tea produces wonderful benefits which have been acknowledged for years and years.
Internally, it seems there’s no end as to what nettle tea will do for your body. To start with, nettle tea is rich in vitamins: A; C; E; B1; B2; B3; B5; calcium; iron; folate; potassium; magnesium; manganese; phosphorous; selenium; and zinc – Why would you need daily supplements after having a warm drink of nettle tea? In fact if you do not experience any ailments, having nettle tea frequently will help you stay in shape.
As nettle tea is known as a natural diuretic (meaning it flushes out your system), it aids in the relief of bladder infections and kidney stones. It may also ease diarrhea symptoms; but you need to be careful, as drinking a large amount of nettle tea also acts as a laxative!
Nettle tea has anti-inflammatory qualities that will help in a respite from joint pain and arthritis (both from consuming the tea or putting it on locally to the joints – the tea, not the leaves!). These qualities assist to open nose cavities, as well, allowing relief from hay fever and other allergies.
If you’re unwell, drinking nettle tea can help your coughing and asthma. Quite a few people have even substituted their coffee with nettle tea, stating the boost and vitality they receive after having a cup beats anything they ever experienced from a coffee.
Females get added benefits from consuming nettle tea; as mentioned before, nettle tea is a natural diuretic, which prevents water retention and bloating during menstruating. Moreover, during menstruation and following giving birth, drinking nettle tea will minimize excessive bleeding. Using the tea as a rinse for the hair stimulates growth helping strengthen the root; be sure that you let that boiling hot tea cool down before you dump it on your scalp.
Externally, nettle tea is a winner, too. The anti-inflammatory properties that assist joint inflammation also combat eczema and acne. Sort of ironic, thinking about the itchy redness the leaves cause if they get in direct exposure to the skin! On top of that, the diuretic effect of the tea helps keep your system flushed out, which always equals healthier, beautiful skin.
And do not be concerned – drinking nettle tea won’t cause your insides to become irritated like contact with the skin will. However, as with all natural herbs, be sure to introduce nettle tea into your diet gradually to avoid a reaction.
In case you are too frightened to embark on a nettle locating adventure on your own (those stings are painful!), you won’t have to miss out; a neighborhood health food store will surely sell nettle tea in both tablet or dried leaf variety – because, they have been conscious of the health advantages of nettle tea forever!