The nettle plant wears the scientific name of Urtica dioica, but is commonly called all of the following - depending on where you are and who you are talking to:

·           Stinging Nettle;

·           Common Nettle;

·           Gerrais;

·           Isirgan;

·           Kazink;

·           Ortiga;

·           Grande Ortie;

·           Ortie;

·           Urtiga;

·           Chichicaste,;

·           Brennessel;

The nettle plant grows pretty much all over the world and is classified as an innocuous plant. That means that it can deliver a painful and irritating sting. When you touch the leaves of the nettle plant, you are most likely to get pricked by the hairs that are located there. These hairs are worth facing though; they are protecting some amazing healing powers within the leaves themselves. Nettle leaves are made up of the following:

formic acid, histamine, serotonin, choline, minerals, chlorophyll, amino acids, lecithin, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols, tannins and vitamins. Nettle's main plant chemicals include: acetophenone, acetylcholine, agglutinins, alkaloids, astragalin, butyric acid, caffeic acids, carbonic acid, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, choline, coumaric acid, folacin, formic acid, friedelins, histamine, kaempherols, koproporphyrin, lectins, lecithin, lignans, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, neoolivil, palmitic acid, pantothenic acid, quercetin, quinic acid, scopoletin, secoisolariciresinol, serotonin, sitosterols, stigmasterol, succinic acid, terpenes, violaxanthin, and xanthophylls

Yes, that is quite a few - and that's the reason why nettle plants are so renowned across the planet for medicinal usage. Here are some of the benefits of health that you can derive from nettle leaf tea, and in using the leaves in salads, pastas and more:

·           Use as an effective diuretic;

·           Treatment for arthritis and rheumatism;

·           Reduction of inflammation of all sorts;

·           Relief of allergic rhinitis;

·           Treatment for watery, itchy eyes;

·           Reduction of blood pressure;

·           Relief from general pain;

·           Use as a sedative;

·           Treatment for the prostate;

·           Strengthening the immune system;

·           Treatment for various skin conditions;

·           Promoting thicker, fuller hair;

·           Stimulating new hair growth;

·           Reduction of dandruff and other scalp conditions;

·           and a vast number of other healthy benefits!

Be careful using nettle leaves if you are taking medications to lower your blood pressure or if you are taking other diuretics.  Also, long term nettle leaf usage is not recommended.