Dragolub, cuckoo nettle, night blindness - these are all white, historians claim that the ancient Roman writer Pliny wrote about the healing properties of this plant as early as the 1st century BC. There are references to her in many ancient herbalists. Outwardly it looks like nettle, hence one of the names, but it does not burn, you can collect flowers without problems.
Nettle habitat
This plant covers one of the widest growing areas. The places of its distribution are the Northern and Southern hemisphere, where the climate is temperate. It lives in tropical rainforests of Thailand, India, Australia, etc. It is found more often on the northern side of Europe than in the southern.
Due to the medicinal properties of nettle, it is specially grown in many European countries, although by itself it grows like a weed.
Propagated by seeds, cuttings and rhizomes. It grows in thickets, choosing well-moistened, often marshy soils. Flowering time - from the beginning of June to the end of August. Nettle prefers fertile soil, so its habitat is abandoned area and the outskirts of villages, as well as under the walls of houses, near fences, in gardens and parks.
Nettle takes up all available space, becoming a weed that is not easy to get rid of.
Plant characteristic
White lamb, popularly deaf nettle, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the labiate family. It has a creeping rhizome and a hollow, non-branched stem, the height of which can reach 60 cm. Leaves on petioles, opposite, heart-shaped or ovoid, are arranged crosswise on the stems, forming nodes. The flowers are white or yellowish, located in green five-toothed cups. At the end of the flowering period, a fruit is formed that breaks down into four dark nuts.
Looking at the photo, you can see the obvious similarities between common and deaf nettles.
Lamb grows in the immediate vicinity of water bodies and in forests, where it can be found among shrubs
Useful properties of nettle
Today, nettle is widely popular and is used in the treatment of many diseases, and is also widely used in preventive and cosmetic procedures. Its special properties enhance immunity and improve metabolism.
Nettle has a beneficial effect on the bladder and liver. Nettle leaves increase hemoglobin and significantly lower blood sugar, as well as increase the number of red blood cells and platelets. Also, due to its high potassium content, it has a good anti-inflammatory effect.
There are a huge number of recipes for its use, and anyone will find something suitable for him. Regular intake of nettle infusion is one of the easiest ways to generally strengthen the body.
You can safely use dried nettle, it contains the same nutrients as fresh.
The medicinal properties of the plant are very effective in:
- tuberculosis
- atherosclerosis
- problems with the digestive system
- nausea, which is accompanied by increased gas production
- diseases of any mucous surfaces
- reduction of symptoms of irritation caused by allergies (urticaria, dermatitis)
- seasonal allergies
- stabilization of hematopoiesis in the body
- stopping bleeding, due to its burning.
- diseases of the scalp
- removal of toxic substances from the body
- fight against germs (has antibacterial properties)
Vegetative propagation
Dividing the bush
How to divide a bush of a bush photo
Dividing the bush is the most popular breeding method, which allows you to completely preserve varietal characteristics, and flowering begins in the next season. Perform the procedure in the spring. Dig up the overgrown bush, carefully divide it into parts. Plant in holes that are suitable for the size of the root system. Water.
Layers
Reproduction of the lamellar by layering photo
They are propagated less often by layering. Layers are made in the fall (September-October). Bend the stem to the ground, sprinkle with soil. In the spring, separate the young shoots from the mother plant and plant in a permanent growth site.
Cuttings
Cuttings of a lamb photo
Lamb can be propagated by cuttings. In August, cut the cuttings and root in a sandy peat mixture, covered with a jar or cut plastic bottle. Ventilate and water regularly. Transplant the rooted stalk to a permanent place of growth in September, cover with fallen leaves and spruce branches for the winter.
Self-cultivation of nettles at home
You can buy seeds at the nearest pharmacy, in the market, or by ordering online. Many are engaged in self-cultivation and make medicines from it. Nettle - refers to a weedy type of plant, but despite this, it is necessary to make certain efforts to breed it.
The choice of a suitable place is the main condition for landing. In this place, the soil should be sandy or fertile, sufficiently moist and in the shade, and no less important is the absence of weeds.
Sowing should be done in late autumn, before frosts come, or in spring, after the first snow melts. Seeds should be mixed with dry sand and sown with a depth of 1.5 cm, the distance between crops is at least 60-70 cm, sprinkled on top with a small layer of humus or peat.
The sowing area must be well moistened and the moisture level maintained until you see the first shoots.
They usually appear in late spring (April, May), when the air temperature rises to 8 degrees Celsius. Planting care is not difficult. You just need to sometimes moisten the site, loosen the soil and get rid of weeds. To improve the result, you can use natural organic dressings.
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Caution - contraindications!
Deaf nettle does not contain any toxic substances, therefore it is believed that an overdose of its drugs cannot have any consequences. But, at the same time, long-term use of funds based on this plant is not allowed when:
- hypotension;
- increased blood clotting;
- atonic constipation.
It is strictly forbidden to take deaf nettle preparations during pregnancy, as they increase the contractions of the uterine muscles.
White lamb
(Lamium album), aka deaf nettle, is a perennial herb. The plant belongs to the labiate family.
How to use in everyday life
- Nettle is used to make “cheviot” - it is a light warm fabric, reminiscent of linen or cotton.
- The fabric, which is an excellent alternative to silk, is made from Chinese nettle.
- Among flower growers, nettle infusion is popular, which is used to combat aphids.
- Nettle is used to make bath brooms.
- Nettle is added as a dye to color food yellow or green.
- Especially popular is nettle fertilizer, which increases soil fertility.
Peculiarities of the yarn
The lamb is very fast growing, which makes it very similar to a simple weed. The maximum height of such a plant is about 0.25 m. Its root system is fibrous, therefore it can very quickly fill a vast area, decorating it with its branchy stems. The dark green heart-shaped leaf plates have a serrated edge. In the center of the leaves, soft veins are clearly visible, in some cases the plate is decorated with spots.
Peduncles grow from internodes, while in length they can reach about 0.3 m. They are overgrown with small leaf plates and flowers. Flowers can be painted in different colors, they are double-lipped corollas. In the center of each flower there are thin stamens with violet-black anthers. Flowers are collected in whorls. After the whorl withers, a seed pod is formed at this place, and in it there are three-sided nuts. This seed pod is the fruit of the lamb. When the fruits are fully ripe, the seeds spill out of them, thanks to which the plant reproduces well by self-sowing. Lamb blooms for a very long time for several months. The first flower buds are formed in the last spring weeks, and the beginning of the formation of fruits occurs at the end of June.
Nettle photo
There are no complicated diseases for the deaf nettle! She is a reliable friend for the health of a strong friend!
Deaf nettles are found almost everywhere; it can be found in the forest, in the city, in household plots. This plant is incredibly useful as it can show a lot of medicinal properties. Why is she called "deaf"? Unlike common nettle, deaf does not "burn", which allows you to collect it without gloves.
Deaf nettle is quite actively used in folk medicine.
Nettle hair cosmetics
From time immemorial, beautiful luxurious hair has been the subject of universal admiration. Nettle for hair is an indispensable help in maintaining their healthy condition.
Rub fresh nettle juice onto scalp for several weeks or rinse hair with a little juice. The infusion will give healthy breath and a delicious look to your hair.
It is not difficult to prepare it: 3 tbsp. l. add dried and finely chopped leaves to a glass of boiling water. Let stand for 0.5 hour, strain through a strainer. After the usual headwash procedure, rinse your hair with the prepared infusion.
To restore damaged hair after the dyeing procedure, to restore their color and elasticity, use the following recipe for infusion: pour 2-3 cups of boiling water 2-3 tbsp. l. dried nettle leaves, let it infuse for at least 7 hours, then strain and rub into the scalp with cloth or cotton swabs.
You need to rub it along the hair growth, pressing lightly so as not to harm the roots. If using fresh leaves, increase the amount to 0.5 kg.
Other uses
Probably there is no person who has not burnt himself with nettles at least once
Stinging nettle has good commercial and economic value that cannot be marketed by home gardeners. The permanent green dye is obtained from the leaves and stems, while the yellow dye is made from the roots when boiled with alum.The fiber is as strong as linseed, and is obtained from the stems that are harvested when the plant begins to die. Fiber can be used to make cloth, paper, and rope.
The fibrous stems of mature plants are used to make twine, fishing nets, traps, and other items. Nettles are traditionally dried and fed to livestock throughout the winter. In Europe, plants are harvested commercially to extract chlorophyll, which is used as a safe green dye (E140) in food.
Procurement of raw materials
From this plant, tinctures for alcohol, decoctions, vitamin tea, and water infusion are prepared. For the preparation of medicines, it is necessary to use the inflorescences and leaves of the plant. The flowers of deaf nettle contain a huge amount of nectar, so they should be dried under a canopy, avoiding direct sunlight.
The collected parts of the medicinal plant are crushed with a knife and laid out on cloth or on paper, regularly turning and shaking them. Dried raw materials are stored in closed containers, tightly closed with lids, since the intense aroma of this herb can attract insects - and the prepared medicinal raw materials will be spoiled.
Ongaonga
Ongaonga (translated from Latin - "ferocious nettle") is also known as the nettle tree. This is the most dangerous type of nettle. It grows exclusively in New Zealand. Only the nettle tree has a woody stem, which reaches five meters in height, and its thickness reaches 12 centimeters. The thick stem of the plant is incredibly densely covered with stinging villi. It's hard to believe, but New Zealanders are afraid of encounters with such a tree, because they believe that this is one of the most dangerous types of nettles. The fact is that accidental encounters with such a plant cause breathing difficulties, impaired vision and temporary paralysis of the muscular system. There is even a known fatal case.
Imagine that every year about 75 people need serious hospital treatment after meeting such a "monster". Only one fatal case was officially recorded in 1962, when two young people accidentally fell into a thicket of nettles and received multiple burns on their legs and arms. One of them had paralyzed leg muscles for an hour, had difficulty breathing and lost sight. He was urgently hospitalized, but after five hours he was gone. The doctors managed to save the second patient. Since then, local residents have been trying to bypass the tenth road, one of the dangerous and stinging nettle species. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid unpleasant meetings. People who have received burns feel signs of malaise for two to three days, after which they recover.
The tree trunk of such a tree sometimes grows up to five meters. But more often the plant forms two-meter thickets. The leaves and stems of such nettles (species and photos are given in the course of the article) are completely covered with white, very poisonous spines, which reach a length of six millimeters. Each such spike is filled with histamine and formic acid inside. At the slightest contact with something, the thorns break and toxins enter the skin, causing severe burns and a sharp throbbing pain.
The nettle tree has caused considerable harm to the people of New Zealand. Because of him, a considerable number of dogs and horses died. It remains a mystery why a plant should have such an impressive defense mechanism in the absence of enemies?
However, it turned out that the ongaonga is not such an invulnerable "monster". There is an insect that is not at all afraid of wood burns. The larvae of the butterfly with the beautiful name Red Admiral not only are not afraid of dangerous toxins, they feed exclusively on the foliage of the nettle tree.
Location
Nettle grows best in full sun and light shade, on moist, nutritious soil.
Reproduction
Spring sowing of seeds or dividing rhizomes.
Care
Under favorable conditions, nettle can turn into a difficult-to-eradicate weed.
Pests and diseases
Nettle is rarely affected by disease, but its leaves are an important food source for many caterpillars.
Cornish yarg is a soft cheese with a delicate creamy taste and aroma. After squeezing and salting, it is carefully, by hand, wrapped with nettle leaves. Leaves are not only a decoration: they attract a variety of molds, which help ripen the cheese and give it an exquisite mushroom flavor. Remove the Cornish Yarg from the refrigerator about an hour before serving.
Hanging basket-ball with herbs: making at home
Procurement and storage
Fresh young leaves are harvested in spring, mature leaves for drying in mid-summer and autumn (always wear gloves when harvesting them!). The roots are dug up in the fall along with the bases of the stems and dried in a shady place.
