Nettle

URTICA DIOICA (STINGING NETTLE) The Restorative Tonic—An Herb of Nourishment, Inflammation Modulation, and Mineral Balance BOTANICAL IDENTIFICATION Scientific Name: Urtica dioica L.Common Names: Stinging Nettle, Common Nettle, Burn WeedFamily: Urticaceae Morphology: Perennial herb growing 1–2 meters tall. Features square stems and opposite, heart-shaped leaves (3–15 cm long) with serrated edges. Leaves and stems bear hollow, silica-tipped stinging trichomes. Flowers are greenish catkins (panicles) blooming summer to fall. Habitat and Range: Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa; naturalized worldwide. Thrives in nitrogen-rich soils—forest edges, riverbanks, disturbed sites.  Adaptations include stinging hairs containing formic acid and histamine, deterring herbivores, and a rhizomatous root system for spreading. CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL USE Traditional European herbalists used nettle as a spring tonic, blood purifier, and food. Young shoots were cooked as greens, while decoctions