Hemp Nettle
Parts Usually Used
The plant
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Hemp nettle is an annual weed; the square, branching stem is swollen at the joints and covered with bristly, downward-pointing hairs. The opposite, ovate, coarsely toothed leaves are from 2-5 inches long and bristly on both sides. Dense, whorled, terminal or axillary clusters of pale magenta, 2-lipped flowers with bell-shaped, spiny calyxes appear from June to October.
Where Found
Hemp Nettle grows in gardens and waste places all over Canada, in Alaska, and from the Great Lakes south to West Virginia.
Medicinal Properties
Astringent, diuretic, expectorant
Biochemical Information
Silica 72%
Uses
Historically, herbalists utilized the plant for respiratory complaints, including bronchial congestion, hay fever, asthma, coughs, and phlegm. Traditional practitioners also recommended it for bedwetting, various skin conditions, and blood disorders such as anemia. In European folk tradition, it was employed as a domestic remedy for spleen complaints.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine , by Dr. A. , 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023