Some have waged an all out war on this stinging plant, while others tread lightly and avoid it all costs. Those of us in the know count the days till its arrival. Packed with vitamins and minerals, nettle is a nutrient-dense food that we guarantee will get you short shorts and bare-skin ready for summer. All you have to do is steep and sip.

A native plant available in our Northwest backyard, nettle is in season right now and at its prime for harvesting.  Packed with nourishing chlorophyll, calcium, iron, trace minerals, vitamins and protein, this amazing plant is a powerful food that will transform how you look and feel. It boosts metabolism, eases allergies, is naturally detoxifying, great for skin and hair,  and can even reduce joint pain.

Drink your multivitamins

One of the easiest and most refreshing ways to ingest nettle is through an infusion —similar to a very strong tea, but a large quantity of the herb is left to steep for hours.

Consuming nettle in this way provides protein with a high mineral, vitamin and phytonutrient content in a very absorbable form. We like to think of nettle infusions as a hydrating multivitamin in a glass. A cup of nettle infusion contains up to 500 milligrams of calcium, while a quart of nettle infusion can contain up to 2000 milligrams of calcium and provide more than half of most people’s daily fluid requirements. Try to get that in a pill!

Get Infused!

Susan Weed, author of the celebrated herbal book Healing Wise, popularized herbal infusions. She recommends, pouring one quart of water (room temperature is fine) over one ounce, about a handful, of dried nettle in a jar or French Press, putting the lid on loosely and letting it steep for 4 to 10 hours. Strain out the mineral-rich liquid and drink it: iced, heated, with honey, milk, mixed with black tea, seasoned with mint, spiked with rum or vodka, however you want it! You can drink the entire quart in one day or spread it out over two.

As for the cost, nettles can be pricey to buy the dried herbs by the ounce, since it requires approximately two pounds a month to make it every day. Ask your health food or herbal store for a bulk rate to bring your expense down. Or…better yet, take advantage of the abundance of nettle in the Pacific Northwest, put on your gloves and go sustainably harvest your own.

But don’t take our word for it. Bring in spring on a cellular level and try it for yourself for 7 to 10 days and see if you notice a healthier glow and added energy throughout your day. Enjoy!

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