Τσουκνίδα (Stinging Nettle) BIO

TRADITIONAL & ANECDOTAL USE

Nettle tea

Use 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in 240ml of water by placing them in a teapot. Let the water with the plant material boil for 10-15 minutes. Strain and enjoy combining with cinnamon and honey.

To make the tincture:

1.Place a quantity of herbs in a glass jar. Measure the mass of the herb with a precision scale.

2.You cover 50-75% of the capacity of the jar with the raw herb.

3.For alcohol tinctures, vodka with an alcohol content of ~40% is usually used. Measure the volume of alcohol with a measuring cup. Cover the plant material completely with vodka.

4.Note the amount of plant material and the amount of alcohol you used. If for example you have used 100 gr. of plant material and 500 ml of alcohol, you create a 1:5 tincture. The smaller the ratio of raw herb to alcohol, the stronger the tincture.

5.Note the date the tincture was created. Close the jar. Shake daily or as often as you can. Leave the mixture in the jar for ~2 months in a dark place. The longer you leave it, the stronger the tincture.

6.After 2+ months, strain the mixture and keep the liquid. This is your tincture.

7.Use 1-2 ml to start. Judge the effects and adjust the dosage accordingly.

Keeping a journal of your contact with an herb is very good practice. This applies to contact with any herb if you intend to cultivate a healthy relationship with it. It's a good idea to note any improvements you notice or any side effects. It will help a lot to mention the time of taking, the amount you take and how you consume it. A precision scale is very useful for accurate calculations.