Called as ortie in France and Brennessel in Germany
, the stinging nettle was said to be introduced into Britain by Caesar's soldiers who sowed it along the sides of the great long roads. Now days both the roads and the nettles are present and can be seen along the sides of the roads. History states that at the end of a long day's march the cooler climate of England and the weary miles would make their legs to ache. They would then gather the nettles and beat other using it so as to warm the affected parts. That does really embrocate for the strong.
Those were the days when nettle has been used as to warm the affected parts. Now days herbal practitioners has found many different uses of these humble nettles. A stimulating hair tonic can be made by the extract along with alcohol. For many rheumatic sufferers, urtication, i.e. the beating with nettles is used sometimes so as to counter the irritation. It has also been used to lessen the bleeding in the mouth and is also used to relieve pains in painful piles or hemorrhoids if taken a tablespoonful (15 ml) at a time, three times a day.
The active constituents of a nettle are many. It includes 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, formic acid and Gallic acid as the main constituents. It also contains much readily digestible or assimilable iron. It is also very useful when it is used in conjunction with therapies for removing -toxins from the blood, and also for rheumatism.