March Herb of the month - Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles – The Green Fire of Spring

As the earth awakens and spring stretches her limbs, few herbs embody the vitality of this season quite like Nettle (Urtica dioica). Often dismissed as a pesky weed, Nettle is in truth one of nature’s most powerful green allies—nutritive, protective, and deeply rejuvenating. This wild plant bursts forth with the energy of renewal, making it the perfect herb to spotlight this month.

Herbal Energetics – The Spark of Life

In traditional herbal energetics, Nettle is considered drying and warming, with a slight bite that stirs the blood and ignites sluggish systems. Energetically, it’s like a jolt of green lightning stimulating circulation, invigorating the kidneys, and clearing out winter’s residual dampness. It has a deeply tonic quality, meaning it helps restore, nourish, and strengthen over time.

Nettle connects to the element of Fire in Earth’s clothing, you can feel its sting when fresh, yet once dried or cooked, it transforms into a gentle and fortifying friend. This duality reflects its ability to both arouse and restore. It’s especially helpful for people who feel cold, tired, or congested as spring begins to bloom.

Planetary Alignment – Mars

Astrologically, Nettle is often associated with Mars, the planet of action, energy, and courage. Mars rules the blood, the muscles, and the force that drives us forward. Nettle carries that same Martian charge: it stimulates the blood, supports the adrenals, and awakens the will.

When Mars energy is stuck, manifesting as irritability, fatigue, or stagnation, Nettle helps restore flow. Its iron-rich composition and mineral density feed the blood and tissues, giving you the strength to meet life with vitality.

Nettle Through the Ages: From Folklore to Fiber

In folklore, Nettle was used for protection and purification. Some traditions placed bunches of nettles in doorways to ward off evil, while others carried it as a charm to increase courage and resilience. In Norse mythology, it was associated with Thor, the thunder god—again highlighting its fiery, fortifying spirit.

Historically, Nettle has served as both food and fiber. In medieval times, it was used to make textiles—nettles were spun into thread much like flax. The young spring leaves were also harvested as an important early green, rich in nutrients after the long winter months.

Eclectic’s Special Connection to Nettles: From Folk Remedy to Modern Discovery

Nettle has long been revered as a plant of protection and power. In old European traditions, it was hung above doorways to ward off evil or used in rituals to boost strength and resilience. For centuries, herbalists turned to nettles as a spring tonic, a wild green brimming with life force—perfect for flushing out the heaviness of winter and awakening the body’s natural vitality.

But one of nettle’s now-famous uses supporting the sinuses during allergy season is actually a more recent discovery in the world of herbalism.

It all started in 1989, right here at Eclectic. Our founder, naturopathic physician Dr. Ed Alstat, had a moment of herbal serendipity. An employee, intending to take Echinacea, accidentally reached for freeze-dried nettle capsules instead. To everyone’s surprise, their seasonal sinus symptoms cleared up. Intrigued, Ed followed his curiosity with science and conducted one of the first clinical trials on freeze-dried nettles and allergic rhinitis.

The results? Remarkable. The study confirmed that freeze-dried nettles weren’t just folklore—they were genuinely effective in calming histamine reactions and easing sinus discomfort. Even more compelling, this benefit came without drowsiness or side effects, making nettle a gentle, natural alternative for seasonal support.

Today, Ed’s discovery continues to influence herbal protocols around the world—but at Eclectic, it’s a reminder of how deep listening to the plants, paired with careful observation and science, can lead to powerful healing insights.

And because freeze-drying captures nettle’s full spectrum of living compounds, we continue to honor that discovery in every bottle—bringing the wild energy of fresh nettles directly to you.

Health Benefits: Nutrient-Dense, Restorative, and Cleansing

Nettle is often called a nutritive tonic, deeply nourishing the body with essential vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that support vitality on every level. It’s a true spring tonic, cleansing, rebuilding, and energizing all at once.

Nettle is especially rich in:

• Iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium – essential for energy, bone health, and muscle function

• Vitamins A, C, K, and several B vitamins – for immune support, healthy skin, and nervous system health

• Chlorophyll – supports blood building and gentle liver detoxification

• Protein and amino acids – rare among leafy greens, adding to its restorative power

• Silica and zinc – which support healthy skin, hair, and connective tissue

  
  

Modern herbalists use Nettle for:

• Seasonal allergies and sinus support – thanks to its natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties

• Energy and adrenal support – ideal when fatigue is rooted in depletion, not stimulation

• Joint and muscle comfort – supports those dealing with stiffness or inflammation

• Kidney and urinary tract health – as a gentle, mineral-rich diuretic

• Prostate support – especially the root, used to maintain healthy urinary flow in men

• Lactation support – often used as a galactagogue to promote milk production in nursing mothers

• Skin and scalp health – traditionally used both topically and internally to soothe irritated skin and strengthen hair