Nettle timeline
1200 BC
Humans use nettle in the Bronze Age for various
reasons.
45 BC
Troops of Julius Caesar use nettles to stay
awake during battles.
16th and 17th Centuries
It is one of the most common household textiles
in the UK
20th Century
Nettles are used as a substitute for cotton
during the two World Wars.
Nettling the score - 10 facts
1 Butterflies can’t get enough of them. Nettles
are butterfly food for at least two common British species - the Red
Admiral and Painted Lady. 2 They’re medicinal. Stinging nettle has
been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema,
arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary
problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate.
3 They are survivors. The sting on the underside
of the nettle leaf is designed to protect it. Tiny hairs laced with
formic acid sink into the skin leaving raised bumps.
4 They tend to come with their own first
aid kit. Dock leaves are commonly believed to soothe the symptoms of
a nettle sting, and they often grow close by.
5 Nettles are chic. The fibre inside the plants
can be spun into string and used to make fabric for clothing,
cushion covers, and even paper.
6 The German army used nettle fabric to
make army uniforms during World War I.
7 It’s low maintenance. Nettles love wasteland.
They will flourish wherever the soil is rich in phosphate
and are common throughout Northern Europe. They can
grow to be 4ft tall.
8 The plants are packed with magnesium,
iron and calcium 9 They’re tasty too, although nettle nutrition
is a dish best served hot. The sting disappears when the leaves are boiled
which is probably why they are most commonly consumed in the form
of tea. If that’s not your cuppa, nettle soup is also tasty.
10 And finally, they can raise your spirits...
literally. Nettle wine is a traditional country wine that’s enjoying a bit of
a resurgence.
How to celebrate
Cultivate nettles. Planting nettles in your
garden or backyard is a great way to observe Be Nice to Nettles Week.
Try some nettle recipes to commemorate
Be Nice to Nettles Week. Substitute spinach and other greens with
nettle on this day. Try out the flavours and sensations to see if you prefer
nettle more.
Try textile made of nettle and nettle fibre.
You will be surprised to find how comfortable they are. They can also
be dyed like cotton.