Nature and Gardening

Soup made primarily on nettles is actually really nice.

It allegedly has incredible nutritional value with the dioica type argued to be a superfood. Vitamins A, B, C and K. Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and a lot of other very beneficial nutrients.

I'm told for optimum flavor and benefit, you have to harvest it early in spring when the leaves are still actively growing and well before flowers develop. Additionally, harvesting only the top (4) leaf segments for consumption gives you the 'prime rib' of the plant while leaving the lower portion to survive to flower and reseed itself. Harvesting it young, it will not be stringy from woody growth, and will still contain all of the stored energy for upcoming fruit production. Once cooked, the formic acid in the trichomes (toxin and stinger) is destroyed and it can be consumed. It can replace spinach in just about any recipe. It supposedly has a nutty flavor. I'm not after it for flavor. I dislike spinach.

It also has histamine receptor blocking properties, allegedly providing relief to hay fever. I don't know of anyone personally to ask if it's true, but there are many people promoting them now. Frankly, every year older I get, the worse my allergies get. If it does help, it's worth it to me. If it does nothing, I'm no worse off than I was.

There are even other alleged health benefits as well. Blood pressure, thyroid, liver, prostate effects. None of it I could confirm or deny. I'm just after allergy relief.