Parts Used: Aerial parts of young plants

Main uses

General: In hair shampoos and rinses
Culinary: As vegetable or soup
Medical: Arthritis, eczema, anemia.

Nettles grow wherever human beings disturb the land. Although we may curse the nettle for its sting, it is invaluable as a food, rich in vitamins and minerals, and as a medicine. In spring, the fresh green leaves may be cooked and eaten like spinach, made into a delicious soup or drunk as a tea.

Nettles make a valuable tonic after the long winter months for they provide one of the best sources of minerals. They are an excellent remedy for anemia their vitamin C content ensures that the iron they contain is properly absorbed.

Nettles has long been one of my favorite herbs. Once you get past the stinging part, they make a fabulous hair tonic that virtually eliminates hair breakage (a problem that always gets worse for me the longer my hair is.)

Hair Tonic Ingredients:

Fresh Nettles
Fresh Rosemary
*Fresh Sage (For Dark Hair)
*Fresh chamomile (For Blond or Red Hair)
Apple Cider Vinegar

(Dried herbs can be used in place of fresh. I just happen to prefer the fresh.)

Instructions:

Fill a medium sized pot with water, throw in a few handfuls of: Nettles, Rosemary and Sage. This is for dark hair. Substitute chamomile for sage if you have blond or red hair. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce heat and allow the herbs to steep for an hour or so. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth or a non-printed paper towel. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to tonic.

Storage:

While this is a great hair tonic, it does not contain any preservatives and the bulk of it should be stored in the refrigerator.

Usage:

Purchase a small to medium sized spray bottle and fill with tonic. Wash hair normally, towel dry, then thoroughly spray tonic onto hair and comb out. Do not rinse out the tonic. The slight vinegar smell will disappear within a few minutes.

Within a week you will notice a dramatic improvement in the shine, texture and strength of your hair.

M.K. Welty hosts an informational website on herbs, herbal remedies and herbal gardening. For more great tips on Using Herbs and Herbal Gardening visit, or to locate suppliers of herbs and herbal remedies please visit: http://www.UsingHerbs.Com