"This
entertaining and eye-opening book will make you regard that weedy
bit behind the shed in an entirely new light" "It's
written with enthusiasm and humour, by someone with a lot of practical
knowledge to draw on" "It is, quite simply, the definitive guide to that much-maligned plant: the nettle."
Learn
how this common plant can heal you, feed you Stinging nettles have been put to myriad uses by our ancestors, and many of these are still valid today. Already stinging nettle products are growing in popularity in the field of alternative medicine, as their wide range of health benefits becomes better known. This unique book explores the diverse uses of this fascinating plant - in the garden and the kitchen, for their medical and fibrous properties and so on. It is packed with practical suggestions, as well as a guide to the botany of stinging nettles, and how to collect and store them. For example, you will discover how to use nettles to:
and much more ... The
many health benefits of taking nettles in various forms include relief
from: hay fever and other allergies; acne and other skin conditions;
arthritis and rheumatism; asthma; stress; high blood pressure; depression;
enlarged prostate gland.
I expect your first question is ‘Are there really that many uses for the stinging nettle?’ The answer most definitely is yes – and more besides, depending on how you categorise them. Your second question might be ‘Why on earth write about the uses of stinging nettles?’ Well I have two very good reasons: the first is that from a practical point of view these are uses that you may be able to put to your benefit; the second is that stinging nettles are a good example of the valuable natural resources that surround us, yet are often ignored. We are becoming aware that disappearing rainforests contain many plants that can be of great use to mankind – in combating disease for example – and let’s hope we are realising this before it is too late. But in our own back yards we also have many useful plants, most of which we think of as weeds and destroy. With our increasingly disposable and environment-damaging lifestyles it is important to value the resources that nature has given us. Everything has its place in nature, and, even if you don’t end up enjoying a nettle omelette, or gargling nettle juice to ease your sore throat, I hope you will think of nettles with a little more affection and respect after reading this book. Stinging nettles, like wasps, are often thought of as unnecessary evils of the natural world, but they are vital elements of the web of life. If we look into the past we see that our ancestors indeed made much use of stinging nettles (and many other wild plants too) and most of these uses are just as valid today. A
superb gift for any gardener, cook or healer– practical yet
fun! Published
by Wildeye in 2006 Reader Reviews "After
reading this book by either dipping in to seek what you wish to know
- or from cover-to-cover - you will be intrigued and delighted! It is,
quite simply, the definitive guide to that much-maligned plant: the
nettle. This book has become invaluable to me in my work of complementary
therapy. It has joined the many excellent books that I suggest to my
clients, if they seek alternative remedies that work. I have no doubt
that whatever interests you have - you will love this book and its priceless
information." "I
am an alternative healer and have known for some time that stinging
nettles can be put to a number of uses, but this book has been a real
eye-opener. It’s written in a friendly chatty style, at times
funny, but all the 101 uses are quite valid. Some are historical but
many can still be used today. I have a whole new respect for this amazing
plant and am already using it more – for myself as well. If you’re
interested in the use of plants this book is just fascinating. I keep
wanting to tell people bits from it – “Did you know…”!
It would also make a great gift for a gardener who thinks of the nettle
merely as a weed!"
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