Nettle

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Scientific Name: Urtica Dioica
Also Know As: Common Nettle, Stinging Nettle, Net Plant, Devil Leaf, Dwarf Nettle, Great Stinging Nettle, Heg-beg, Devil's Apron, Naughty Man's Plaything, Scaddie, Tanging Nettle, Hoky-poky, Jenny-nettle, Sting-leaf

Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars
Direction: South

Deities: Aine, Medb, Bridhid, Odin, Shango, Nana, Buruku, Agni, Blodeuwedd, Cernunnos, Hades, Horus, Jupiter, Osiris, Pcuvus ( Earth Fairies ), Pluto, The Lightning Serpent Lord, Thor, Vishnu, Vulcan, Yama, Arawn, Mab, Arianrhod, Hecate, Hera, Juno, Horus, Set, Ishtar, Morrigu, Lugh, Aer, Andraste, Pwyll, Arawn, Apollo, Ares, Circe, Athena, Tisiphone, Mars, Sekhmet, Ta-urt, Tara, Astarte Goibniu, Luchtaine, Credne, Brigit, Scathach, Diancecht, Goibniu,, Kai, Nuada, Weyland, Creidne, Ath

Habitat & Description: Nettle grows in the wild and is easy to identify. It’s a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from 2 to 4 foot. The leaves are positioned opposite and are heart shaped. The leaves have a rough papery texture. The stout ribbed, hollow stem grows 2 to 4 foot tall and are covered with stinging hairs that release a substance that produces a sting.

Parts Used: young leaves and shoots
Culinary Uses: Use young nettle leaves, sprouts, and tender upper stems as a cooked vegetable. While Nettles have been used for millennia as a food source, they have just a long a history as a medicinal plant. As a matter of fact, Nettles have been used to reverse the effects of Anemia.

Medicinal Uses: A spring tonic made from nettles has been used to treat winter anemia for centuries. I have specifically used the plant as a treatment for those suffering from seasonal allergies. Leaf tea has traditionally been used as a blood purifier, blood builder, diuretic, astringent, for gout, glandular diseases, rheumatism, poor circulation, enlarged spleen, mucus discharges of the lungs, internal bleeding, diarrhea, and dysentery. It's effect involves the action of white blood cells, aiding coagulation and formation of hemoglobin in red blood corpuscles. Nettles also work to reverse anemia, even that caused by feminine monthly cycles. Recently Germans have begun using the roots in a treatment for Prostate Cancer. Russians are adding the leaves to vodka to treat inflammation of the gallbladder, and hepatitis. There is evidence that even in the time of Jesus, Nettles were used as a treatment for arthritis. The plant tops were pinched off, and used to "whip" the afflicted area. The resulting stinging was said to promote blood flow, which in turn alleviated the inflammation. Even today, studies have shown that periodic stings from nettles helps relieve arthritis.
, Quetzalcoatl

Magickal Properties: Protection, Exorcism, Energy, Courage, Defense, Will Power, Self-Discipline, Bringing Rhythm and Stability into Life

Magickal Uses:
The protective powers of the nettle have long been used in magic.
To remove a curse and send it back, stuff a poppet with nettle, or carry some in a sachet. Write on the doll the name of the sender and bury or burn it.
Also, sprinkle nettle around the house to keep evil out and to send it back.
Nettle is also thrown onto the a fire to avert danger, held in the hand to ward off ghosts, carried with yarrow to allay fear, and worn as an amulet to keepnegativity far away.
A pot of freshly cut nettles placed beneath a sickbed will aid in the person's recovery.
Nettle has sometimes been used as a lust-inducing herb, and contemporary Mexican spiritualists recommend its use in purification baths because it is 'more carnivorous' than other herbs, and so will work more efficiently.
Nettle can be very protective and will protect you from dark magic and spiritual betrayal.
Men can use the power of nettle to rid themselves of emotional baggage and women can use this plant to help them to get in touch with their inner warriors.
Nettle mixes well with many other plants including angelica, peppermint and sage.
Stinging nettle is a commonly cursed at naturalized perennial that grows in moist areas with disturbed soils.
A bunch of freshly cut nettles placed under a person's sick bed helps to facilitate a rapid recovery.
Carried in the hand nettles ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
Dried and sprinkled around the home nettle keeps out evil spirits.
Combing nettle juice through the hair combats baldness.
Sprinkle around the room to protect or to add to protection sachets.
Burn during exorcism ceremonies.
Call on the goddess Áine when using for protection and healing.
Call on goddess Medb while using nettle for lust spells


Warnings: Nettle can cause a stinging pain when messed with. Use gloves when collecting.

Thanks to Rev. Sherry Cooper, author of our Herbology classes, for this cool information!