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Nettle seeds: how to consume them?

• Dried nettle seeds, from the Latin name Urtica dioica, here the achenes and their envelopes, can be consumed as they are or sprinkled on various foods to benefit from their numerous and surprisingly active health nutrients. Nettle seeds have a very slightly oleaginous herbaceous taste, they stimulate all the functions of the body and are ideal in situations of exhaustion.
• For more than 2000 years nettle seeds have been used for food and therapeutic purposes. In recent years, the amazing properties of nettle, comparable to those of ginseng, have been highlighted by Western herbalists.
• In addition to their remarkable stimulating and aphrodisiac properties, nettle seeds are depurative(like the leaves), have an anti-infectious, diuretic, uric acid eliminator, hepatic drainer, anti-diarrhea, stomachic, anti-anemic, and antirachitic effect.
• Let us note that contrary to other tonics, the seeds of nettle do not seem to deteriorate the quality of the night sleep. And that by their stimulating effect, the seeds of nettle tend to give again "desire to make things" by keeping an alert spirit.
• It is for these reasons, that the seeds of nettle are particularly interesting in basic treatment in a great number of pathologies like the light depression for example.
• Moreover the nettle seeds regulate the menstrual cycle, they are beneficial in the affections of the prostate. And they are a first-rate renal tonic (leaves and seeds regenerate the renal tissue but the seeds especially seem to be very effective) useful also in case of dialysis and nephritis.
• Nettle seeds were once given to horses to improve their vitality and give them a more beautiful coat. Nettle seeds are known to be beneficial for the hair, useful in case of hair loss.
• Nettle seeds give great hope because research has discovered a lectin that has shown in vitro anti-cancer properties and powerful inhibition of the HIV virus.

Nettle seeds: what are their origins?

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Some advice for using nettle seeds

The best way to absorb nettle seeds seems to be to take them chewed, possibly with honey, at breakfast. Henriette Kress, Finnish herbalist, insists on the necessity in case of exhaustion not to operate a "whiplash" treatment of nettle seed, but to act on the long term (2 months) to give back to the organism all its strength.

The American herbalist, Kiva Rose, advises to start with a pinch of nettle seed per day, and to increase the dose if necessary up to one tablespoon of nettle seed per day (dosage recommended by Henriette Kress), depending on personal sensitivity. Beyond that, nettle seed becomes a powerful purgative. In very high doses, nettle seed can even cause lethargic sleep. Note that these herbalists are probably talking about pure nettle seeds, without their envelope.

The nettle seed in decoction, one risks losing part of the active principles and in the form of mother tincture, the nettle seeds lose a great part of their effectiveness and require a high dosage.

Nettle seeds: some precautions of use

Nettle seeds: how are they produced?

Nettle seeds are achenes housed in envelopes (two large accentuated tepals) and are sold dried with these envelopes for food purposes. Nettle seeds sold as seed are stripped of their husks and therefore much more expensive.

Despite the care taken during production to mechanically remove foreign bodies, a small amount may remain. It is therefore recommended to carry out a visual check, and if necessary a sorting, before each use. No request for reimbursement due to the presence of foreign bodies will be accepted.

Characteristics of nettle seeds

Nettle seeds contain vitamins (E), B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), carotenoids, and are rich in magnesium, manganese, sodium, iron, zinc, selenium and in unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, especially, and linolenic)