[Jess!]

Stinging Nettle, and it HURTS!

Porscha got a FACEFUL the other day, because all she saw was "GREEN GRASS! YUMMY!" and dove in. Poor horse.

There was a clump the other day that was taller than I was [6']. I wouldn't want to fall into THAT!

[Cowgirl1013]

We have those here too. I have been told that rubbing the bottom part of a fern over the area helps with the pain.

[dixygirl]

You are right. It is stinging nettle. And it is horrible indeed. My hands still sting as I am typing right now.

Amazing that something so bad can also be good. Here are some of its good points i read online

"As an expectorant, it's recommended for asthma, mucus conditions of the lungs, and chronic coughs. Nettle tincture is also used for flu, colds, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Nettle infusion is a safe, gentle diuretic—considered a restorative for the kidneys and bladder, and used for cystitis and nephritis. It’s also recommended for weight loss, but you may shed more pounds of water than fat.
Nettle tea compress or finely powdered dried nettles are also good for wounds, cuts, stings, and burns. The infusion was also used internally to stop excessive menstruation, bleeding from hemorrhages, bloody coughs, nose bleeds, and bloody urine. It helps blood clot, but major bleeding is dangerous—indicative of a serious underlying condition. Consult a competent practitioner in such cases. Use for minor cuts.
Other uses include treating gout, glandular diseases, poor circulation, enlarged spleen, diarrhea, and dysentery, worms, intestinal and colon disorders, and hemorrhoids. Nettles are usually used along with other herbs that target the affected organs.
German researchers are using nettle root extracts for prostate cancer, and Russian scientists are experimenting with nettle leaf tincture for hepatitis and gall bladder inflammation.
Eating nettles or drinking the tea makes your hair brighter, thicker and shinier, and makes your skin clearer and healthier—good for eczema and other skin conditions. Commercial hair- and skin care products in health food stores often list stinging nettle as an ingredient. Nettles have cleansing and antiseptic properties, so the tea is also good in facial steams and rinses."
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Pla...er/Nettle.html


PS Did they just say eating nettles? I can't imagine how anyone could put this in their mouth

[pantha11]

Good info dizgirl...here is some more for you all.

Stinging Nettle

Rich in vitamin B,C, K, iron, calcium, Nitrogen, potassium, Silica, Sodium, Chlorophyll, Protein and dietary fibre.
Ability to cleanse the blood,
Makes it useful in treating sweet itch, laminitis, arthritis and rheumatism....It reduces painful inflammation
It is an excellent remedy for anemia because of its iron and Vit. C properties.
They are also a great de-toxer, it cleanses the blood
Horses don't seem to eat growing nettles.
Some horses may react with a “nettle rash” but this rash usually disappears within 24 hours.

Guys if you have this growing...you can remove them from your paddocks and put in pot plants...they do have great benefits....as you can see written above....simply cut them allow to wilt, chop them up and add to your horses feed, about a hand full morning and night for the above problems...and many other issues....you can also dry them out in an oven, place on tray bake at 70 0 C for an hour or so....keep the dried nettles in an airtight container and add to your horses feed...same as above.

Now the sting in the leaves is due to histamine that can be easily destroyed with dying.

[horse345]

We always have called it Bull Nettle?

[Kicks]

Originally Posted by Trace

That's a stinging nettle alright - I didn;t think that they grew over here in the US - I ahve only ever seen them in the UK - where they grow in over abundance.

OH YEAH - they do grow in some areas of the USA! I rmembered getting in some in France when I was little but then never saw them in the areas 'back home' I had been in UNTIL Hubby was transferred to Whidbey Island (WA) They are all over there and YES I did get myself into them "ROYALLY" not long after we got there. Aloe juice (from the fresh plant works great - so does the 'juice' out of bracken fern fronds (stinging nettle often grows near bracken fern) to nutralize the sting. Horses never seemed to have any problem with the nettles. Actually they can be a survival food - boiled in a bit of water they are quite tasty and don't sting.