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Nettle tea is a vitamin medicinal drink that, due to its beneficial properties, is often used in herbal medicine. It is used to get rid of various diseases, strengthen the immune system, lose weight and as a sedative. For greater efficiency, the drink should be used in combination with other means, but to maintain the body in good shape, you can use it yourself.
Nettle tea is often used as a remedy for many diseases.
The composition and value of the drink
Nettle contains a lot of water (about 85%), as well as fiber, protein, fat and carbohydrates. It contains representatives of B vitamins, folic and pantothenic acids, riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine, phytoncides and essential oils. From macroelements, the herb is enriched with magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, calcium, from microelements: iron, selenium, manganese, copper, zinc. The seeds of the plant contain fatty oils and ascorbic acid. The roots are enriched with vitamin C. The stinging hairs contain formic and other acids.
It is known that nettle tea is useful due to the presence of biologically active elements in the herb. For example, during heat treatment, the leaves of a plant secrete substances that reduce pain, in addition, they are considered a good natural pacemaker. The amino acids that make up the weed have a beneficial effect on protein metabolism.
Nettle has a high nutritional value, on a par with legumes
The healing properties of nettle tea
The health benefits of nettle tea are very extensive. If there are no contraindications, the medicinal broth can be taken by both women and men, and children, starting from the age of six. The herb is a good anti-inflammatory and hemostatic agent. With its help, you can increase the level of hemoglobin, raise the number of red blood cells, increase the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus. The plant is used for metabolic disorders, liver pathologies, anemia, tuberculosis, diseases of the bladder and hemorrhoids. The herb serves as the prevention of vitamin deficiency and atherosclerosis. Many people say that it helps in the treatment of varicose veins.
Traditional medicine offers many recipes for tea, decoctions, nettle infusions, which have a diuretic, laxative, wound healing, anticonvulsant and expectorant effect. With the help of the herb, you can cure kidney and liver diseases, edema, gout, bronchial asthma, dropsy, bleeding, dysentery and constipation.
Why nettle tea is useful for women
Due to the content of phytoncides in nettle, which suppress the reproduction of pathogens, tea from it helps to establish women's health: it normalizes the cycle and hormones, and has a positive effect on the work of the ovaries. It is known that this drink contributes to the resistance of the nervous system to stress.
For many women, herbal decoctions help to get rid of extra pounds, especially if the weight appears due to disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands.
Benefits of nettle tea for men
For men, the benefits of the drink, which includes burning herb, are as follows:
- increased testosterone levels;
- improved spermatogenesis;
- increased muscle gain;
- increased potency.
Many men who regularly consume nettle tea claim that the drink improves the general condition, normalizes the digestive system, and eliminates pathologies of the urogenital area.
Experts say that the biological active elements contained in the plant help restore hair growth in men, as well as prevent hair loss.
Can children drink nettle tea
If the child is not prone to plant allergies, then tea made on the basis of nettle will be very useful for the child's body. The drink serves as an excellent immunomodulator and is able to increase resistance to infections and viruses. With frequent use, the healing broth will enrich the growing body with iron, protect against the appearance of anemia and strengthen health. During a cold, nettle tea will eliminate inflammation in the lower and upper respiratory tract, and help get rid of cough.
In childhood, the drink can be consumed after reaching the age of six
Nettle tea recipes
There are many recipes for making tea from stinging nettle, and since the herb itself has a specific taste, it is most often used in combination with other plants and products. If you put orange or lemon zest (slices), a few currant berries, raspberries and cherry (cherry) leaves in a drink, it will become much more aromatic and sweeter, it will acquire an interesting shade. Usually, fresh leaves and trunks of nettle are used to make tea, but especially thrifty housewives harvest the plant dry. And they prepare a useful broth based on it throughout the year.
From fresh leaves
Before making tea from nettle leaves, the plant should be prepared: place the raw materials in cold water for 10-15 minutes, wash thoroughly. Then put in a saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for a quarter of an hour. The strained broth is ready for use.
It is better to stock up on a plant in the forest, away from roads and industrial enterprises.
From dried leaves
During the preparation of tea from dry nettle leaves, it is necessary to infuse raw materials so that all vitamins and nutrients can be released from the plant. It is better to use the following recipe:
- 6 tbsp. l. Pour herbs into a deep container.
- Add 1 liter of boiling water.
- Place the lid on the pan tightly.
- Leave on for 20-30 minutes.
- Strain through a sieve.
It is better to collect nettles for harvesting in autumn, and it is important to ensure that all parts of the plant are free from damage and pests. Raw materials should be dried in a dry, protected from sunlight place, about one and a half months, then the grass must be rubbed and stored.
Nettle tea with honey
If you add honey to tea with nettle, then it will turn out to be more tasty and will speed up the process of replenishing the body with useful substances. To prepare such a drink, you should brew fresh, washed grass (100 g) in 0.5 liters of water, boil for five minutes, let it cool slightly, add honey to taste. You can drink 100 ml of tea four times a day.
With berries
Nettle tea will be even tastier and healthier if you add berries to it. They can be used fresh, dried or frozen. Sea buckthorn, cranberries, currants, raspberries and gooseberries are perfect for a drink. For three servings of tea you will need:
- nettle - 50 g;
- berries - 20 g;
- water - 0.8 l.
Cooking steps:
- Put prepared herb into the kettle.
- Pour berries on top (frozen ones should be defrosted beforehand).
- Bring water to a boil, pour into a container with a nettle-berry mixture.
- Let it brew for 10-15 minutes.
Berries in tea can be crushed to give juice
With rose hips
A hot herb drink with rose hips is a great way to boost your immune system. To prepare it, pour boiling water over the products, 3 tbsp each. l. each, put on fire. After boiling, cover the container and let the broth infuse for several hours.
With spices
Spiced nettle tea is especially beneficial for breastfeeding women. It helps to increase lactation and recovery of the body after childbirth. To prepare such a drink, mix a teaspoon of nettle, fennel seeds and anise. Pour the collection with a glass of boiling water and leave for 60 minutes. Strain the liquid, divide into three parts, take during the day between meals.
With herbs
Tea made from nettle and chamomile and other herbs gives an excellent effect in the treatment of all kinds of ailments:
- with St. John's wort - relieves coughing attacks, cleanses the lungs;
- with lemon balm - relieves stress;
- with chamomile - soothes;
- with mint - refreshes.
Every person can brew medicinal tea. To do this, pour 100 g of herbs with 500 ml of boiling water, stand for 10 minutes under a tightly closed lid.
Slimming
The thorny herb is a choleretic and diuretic, so nettle tea is used for weight loss. Due to the abundance of useful components, the weed is able to cleanse the body of toxins and excess fluid, which helps to reduce body weight. In addition, nettle improves bowel function, normalizes metabolism, lowers blood glucose levels and has a mild laxative effect.
To make tea for weight loss, you will need:
- fresh nettle - 50 g;
- lemon juice - 15 g;
- water - 250 ml.
Cooking process:
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Dip the prepared grass into it.
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add lemon juice to warm tea.
Nettle leaves help reduce hunger
How to drink nettle tea
Reviews about the benefits of nettle tea are numerous, and the herb can only bring harm if it is used incorrectly. Therefore, it is important to drink the drink in the recommended dosages and subject to the indications. It is usually advised to take one cup three times a day 20 minutes before meals or according to the following instructions:
- To cleanse the blood in case of intoxication, nettle tea is infused for an hour, consumed before meals, 100 ml.
- With vitamin deficiency, the drink is drunk 50 ml five times a day half an hour before meals.
- Tea made from nettle seeds with honey is useful for coughs. It is consumed several times a day for one cup.
- For the treatment of stomach ulcers, an infused decoction of dried nettle is used. It should be drunk in small sips.
- Tea made from 7 g of nettle raw materials diluted in a glass of boiling water will help to cope with anemia. Such a remedy is taken three times a day, 30 ml each.
Limitations and contraindications
A contraindication for drinking nettle tea is the presence of diseases:
- thrombophlebitis;
- atherosclerosis;
- heart failure;
- polyps and cysts in the uterus;
- high blood pressure;
- allergy.
To achieve a positive effect, it is important to remember not only the benefits of nettle tea, but also the dangers, especially if you use it without observing the dosage. It is undesirable to drink the drink in summer, since dehydration can occur due to the diuretic effect. Care should be taken to treat nettle for people with high blood clotting.
Consult your doctor before drinking nettle tea
Conclusion
Nettle tea is a remedy that supplies the body with nutrients and vitamins.The drink is a source of youth and good mood, helps to restore strength and overcome fatigue, tones, saturates with energy, given by nature.
But it should be understood that nettle tea cannot become a full-fledged medicine and must be used in conjunction with pharmaceutical preparations. For recommendations regarding its use, you should contact a specialist.
