In the minds of some inhabitants, nettle is only a burning perennial weed that grows everywhere and sometimes forms impassable thickets. Meanwhile, this is a truly medicinal plant with a rich multivitamin and mineral composition. The leaves of young nettle are especially valuable. They can be used in medicine, cosmetology and even in cooking.
It is necessary
-
- leaves of young nettle;
- protective gloves;
- colander;
- cool water;
- boiling water;
- knife;
- cooking container;
- salad bowl;
- walnuts;
- green onions;
- vinegar or lemon juice;
- sieve for straining the broth.
Instructions
Step 1
Collect nettle leaves no later than early June. At a later time, this plant is also useful, but it will already contain fewer medicinal substances. The most delicious and nutritious phytotherapists consider the first burning sprouts at the end of April and May - they are extremely rich in ascorbic acid, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and chromium. From this raw material, you can prepare full-fledged salads, soups, teas and even pie fillings.
Step 2
Wear rubber gloves to avoid hurting your hands on the stinging hairs. To stop stinging nettle, rinse it thoroughly in cool water, put it in a colander and scald it with boiling water. When the water is completely drained from the leaves, the main ingredient for a delicious meal is ready.
Step 3
The youngest nettles are best eaten raw. To prepare the salad, cut the leaves, combine them with green onion feathers and chopped walnuts. Separately prepare the nettle broth and season the salad with it (1/3 cup per dish of 800 g of nettle, 100 g of nuts and the same amount of onions). You can add a little vinegar or lemon juice to the nettle salad, if desired.
Step 4
You can drink the rest of the liquid instead of regular green tea. Do not throw away any leaves that are not included in the dish. Prepare a multivitamin infusion from them for future use - this is an excellent tool for enhancing immunity and preventing colds. For 4 servings of infusion, 75 g of chopped leaves are enough. Fill them with water (0.5 L) and bring to a boil.
Step 5
Boil the liquid for 8-10 minutes, then wrap it in a closed container with a towel and let it brew for about 3 hours. The infusion will become even more valuable if you add a handful of rowan berries before cooking. Mix the drink with freshly squeezed carrot, red beet and lemon juice before use. Phytotherapists prescribe this fortifying tea in the morning and evening before meals.
Step 6
Dry young nettles for future use and use as a wonderful cosmetic product. Usually it is successfully used to strengthen hair, fight various diseases of the scalp. Make solutions for the last rinse of hair: insist 2-3 tablespoons of dry nettle in boiling water (1 liter) and cool until warm. This remedy can be rubbed into the hair roots every day - then after 1, 5-2 months you can cope with hair loss and seborrhea.
Step 7
Simple healing infusions of young nettle can be prepared just before use. To do this, pour 25 g of leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. After straining and cooling, the broth can be used. His doctors may prescribe orally as a hemostatic; topically for eczema, dermatitis, burns, non-healing wounds and other diseases. This herbal remedy is equated to a medicine, so you should not take it haphazardly and without a specialist's prescription.
