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    » Home » Recipes » Herbal Recipes » Nettle Infusion

    Nettle Infusion

    Posted: Aug 31, 2011 · Updated: Jul 10, 2019 by Jenny McGruther · This site earns income from ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships.

    pinterest pin how to make nettle infusion

    Stinging nettle infusions are highly nutritive tonics that nourish your body with trace minerals and vitamin K as well as many antioxidants and other plant compounds. They also help support cardiovascular health, blood sugar regulation and general wellness. Herbalists often use them as an adrenal and reproductive tonic and to ease seasonal allergies. They're also easy to make at home, and have a pleasantly mild flavor.

    Jump to Recipe | What is it? | Infusion vs. Tea | Benefits | Dosage

    Two cups of nettle infusion on a slate board with a small dish full of dried stinging nettles.

    What is nettle infusion?

    A stinging nettle infusion is an herbal tonic that you make by steeping dried nettles in hot water for several hours. After steeping, you strain the liquid and drink it. Nettle infusions tend to be a good source of many micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals, as well as various medicinal plant compounds.

    Nettle infusions taste faintly tea-like, inky with a soft herbal sweetness. Their flavor is rich and green.

    Benefits of Stinging Nettle Infusions

    Stinging nettle infusion is potent medicine, particularly for women whose bodies crave the plant’s rich minerals like chromium, magnesium and calcium (1).  And nettles are highly anti-inflammatory and rich in phytonutrients like rutin, which is also found in buckwheat. and astragalin which you can also find in the adaptogenic herb astragalus (2).

    Traditionally, herbalists use nettle infusions to support general wellness, to ease growing pains in children and as a reproductive tonic for both men and women(3). Many herbalists also use nettle as an adrenal tonic, too.

    Other benefits of nettle infusions:

    • Nettles support blood sugar balance and regulation (4).
    • Stinging nettles also support cardiovascular health (5).
    • It also acts as an anti-inflammatory (6) which can be helpful during allergy season.
    • Nettles are high in chlorophyll, antioxidants and other plant compounds that can gently support detoxification.
    • As a source of trace minerals like iron, chromium and magnesium, they can also help remineralize the body.
    • They're a good source of vitamin K which supports blood clotting, healing wounds as well as cardiovascular and bone health (7).

    Where to find stinging nettles: Stinging nettles grow wild throughout Europe and North America. You can also grow them yourself from seed. Or you can purchase organic nettle online here.

    Nettle Infusion vs. Nettle Tea

    While teas and infusions may seem indistinct, there's a few key differences. Herbal teas use smaller amounts of herbs and they steep for a shorter period of time - about 5 minutes. By contrast, herbal infusions use a higher volume of herbs and often steep for several hours. Therefore, they're more nutrient-dense (9).

    So when making a nettle infusion, you'll use about one ounce of herbs for every quart of water and steep it at least 4 and up to 12 hours. As a result, nettle infusions have a deeper flavor and a much higher micronutrient content than nettle teas.

    How much should you drink?

    Nettle infusions are, ultimately, nutritive foods. While they have many benefits, it's wise to drink the amount that feels right to you. Even as little as a cup of nettle infusion every few days still conveys many nutritive benefits.

    Some sources recommends up to two liters a day(10), which is an awful lot to swallow. But a cup or two is likely sufficient and a little easier to manage.

    Rate this Recipe
    5 from 5 votes
    4 servings (2 quarts)

    Stinging Nettle Infusion Recipe

    Nettle infusion offers a tea-like flavor, with vegetal green notes. And it makes a particularly good tonic to help support adrenal health and systemic wellness, while also helping you get through allergy season.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Infusion4 hrs
    Total Time4 hrs 5 mins
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    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces dried stinging nettle leaf
    • 8 cups water

    Instructions

    • Bring two quarts of filtered water to a boil.
    • Toss nettles into a mason jar, and then fill it with boiling water. Allow the herbs to steep in water for at least 4 and up to 12 hours, then strain them from the infusion using a fine-mesh sieve or tea strainer.
    • Drink right away, or store the strained infusion in the fridge up to 3 days.

    Notes

    Notes: Nettle infusions, like most foods and drinks, taste best when you make them fresh.  However, you can make this infusion, strain out the nettles, and store the drink in the fridge about 4 days.
    Rate this recipe!If you loved this recipe, give it a rating. Let us know what works, what didn't and whether you made any adjustments that can help other cooks.

    Other nettle and herb recipes you'll like

    • Sleepy Tea
    • Solé Water
    • Cannabis Honey
    • Moon Tea

    References

    1. Weed, S. (2008) Healing Wise. Ash Tree Publishing
    2. Fleming, T., et al. (ed) (2000) The Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine. Medical Economics Company.
    3. Gladstar, R. (2008) Herbal recipes for vibrant health. Story Publishing.
    4. Bouchentouf, S. et al (2018) Identification of phenolic compounds from nettle as new candidate inhibitors of main enzymes responsible on type-II diabetes. Current Drug Discovery Technologies.
    5. Vajic, U. et al (2018) Urtica dioica L. leaf extract modulates blood pressure and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Phytomedicine.
    6. Roscheck, B., et al. (2009) Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Physotherapy Research
    7. Mittman, P. (1990) Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Medica.
    8. Vitamin K Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health.
    9. Gladstar, R. (2008) Herbal recipes for vibrant health. Story Publishing.
    10. Fleming, T., et al. (ed) (2000) The Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine. Medical Economics Company.
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