The leaves, stems, and roots have been used for food, medicine, cordage, and dye for millennia. But if you get stung on the eyelid or cornea, you should seek attention from an ophthalmologist. In place of the sting, nettle root tincture or cream can also be used topically for this purpose. Just pick a few leaves (with gloves, of course, and no stems), crush and mash them really well to get them juicy, and to crush any stinging hairs, then massage into the affected area. Healing. The medicinal properties of nettles were first harnessed in medieval Europe. The chemical content found in the juice from the leaves and stem of a jewelweed plant is reportedly effective at counteracting the sting from a stinging nettle. The tiny hairs on the leaves and stems of this plant can cause significant irritation and burning to any part of the body that comes in contact with this plant. Northern Bugleweed is non-stinging, and belongs in the mint family (Family. Cooked stinging nettles can be used in place of cooked spinach in many recipes. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. But then , now so are you. Stinging nettle features sharp hairs on its leaves. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 2. Even today, nettles are steamed and dried for stews and tea. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? Horses don't usually eat stinging nettle, but if they lie down or roll on the plant, glassy hairs from the plant's leaves and stems cause a skin reaction characterized by wheals or hives and an intensely painful stinging sensation that may last 24 hours or more. If your cat is stung by a bee or wasp they are most likely to suffer from a swollen paw or face, which are the most common places for cats to be stung. Flowers of clearweed are in narrow racemes that are shorter than stinging nettle, at only about 1 inch (2.5cm) long. Where most weeds are annuals, stinging nettle is a colonizing perennial, with a single colony capable of thriving in one area for several decades. Try some vitamin C or local honey, or visit your nearest health food store and ask about one or more of the following: Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. body. Dogs with a thick double-coat of fur might be slightly more protected from stinging nettles, since their top coat is meant to protect their skin from being hurt by thorns and brambles. This can be done wearing gloves to ensure you don't get stung. . A sting near the eye can be treated with a simple, cold compress. Eating an overlooked plant that . Flower clusters are droopy like stinging nettle, but they are born on cymes (branching flower clusters) at the top of the plant. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). This is great for recipes that use cooked nettles, and for making fresh herbal infusions. determine what is toxic to a particular pet. Remove the stinger, if it is still in place. Nettles not only boost your pets immune system, but theyre also natural diuretics that help your cat and dog get rid of waste from the body and are great a natural remedy for those pets that often suffer from allergies. Erect stems growing three to seven feet tall are lined with soft-green pointed leaves with serrated edges. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. % of people told us that this article helped them. We use cookies for our legitimate interests of providing you with personalized content, enabling you to more easily use our website, evaluating use of our website, and assisting with ad reporting functions. Because its rich in nitrogen, this is particularly useful for leafy vegetables like kale, chard and spinach. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. Toxicity to pets This causes erythema (redness), swelling, and intense itching. Male flowers are borne from the axils of the leaves, whereas female flowers are at the top of the plant. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Caution: When collecting stinging nettle always cover up all exposed skin. Nettles can sting dogs paws leading to intense itching and chewing. If youve ever wondered if stinging nettles hurt dogs then the answer is yes. Useful x 3; Like x 2; wiseowl, May 12, 2015 #7 Quote in Conversation. Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. How do you get over him when he has a new girlfriend? On the one hand, this means that your dog won't necessarily be in a hurry to shove their face into a bushel of nettles. Minimize swelling. A dock weed plant commonly grows in the same general areas as the stinging nettle plant. Apply antibiotic creams or ointments. Minimize swelling. Wood nettle will have branching flower clusters at the top of the plant, unlike stinging nettle. https://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/StingingNettle_FS_18-086-0716.pdf, https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/105371.html, https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/stinging-nettle, https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/false_nettle.htm, https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/collinsonia/canadensis/, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a747, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wood_nettle.htm, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/north_bugle.html, https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.119607, https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/spearmint.html, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/clearweed.htm, https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/selfheal, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/marsh-hedge-nettle, An image and information search of "Stinging Nettle" or. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. Benefits. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). This succulent-looking weed is tasty and great for your flock. The sting and rash from the plant are painful, but can be treated. 10-15 drops for medium-sized dogs and 20-30 drops for larger breeds. The plant has been shown to cleanse the body of metabolic waste and increase production of red blood cells. Is a stinging nettle renewable energy? % of people told us that this article helped them. The bee stinger contains toxins that can cause inflammation. Stinging nettles are covered with countless tiny hollow hairs called trichomes. Despite the fibrous stem of the plants, this food source is also easily digested by pigs, rabbits and poultry. Typically we recommend a dose of one milligram per pound to reduce inflammation.. Would you go blind if a bee sting you in the eye? The entire area can appear swollen and inflamed, with a reddish tint to the area affected. European Nettle is an erect perennial which spreads by rhizomes. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. These hairs contain chemicals, such as formic acid and histamine, which can irritate the skin and cause stinging, itching, and redness . The reason for this is that stinging nettles contain fine hairs and chemicals that irritate human skin. They didn't sting while under the water. These plants are poisonous to goats and can be very harmful or even lethal to them if ingested. Avoid . Stinging nettle, in most areas, is a native perennial, and a sign of what is called in ecology as "succession" where forb plants are growing in Nature's attempt to cover exposed soil. The irritation and rash are usually short lived and do not cause an ongoing rash like poison ivy does. A sting near the eye can be treated with a simple, cold compress. The coolness of the product will have a soothing effect, and the active properties of the cream or ointment can help prevent infection. To identify stinging nettles, look for them in moist, wooded areas, like farmland, pastures, and roadsides. Because nettles grow very easily, there are many different varieties. You can also cut nettles to lay, as they are, around larger plants or shrubby fruits, where they will serve as a valuable mulch. Stinging nettle does not seem like the kind of plant anyone would want to harvest, let alone put into their mouth. Wendy B. Zomlefer shares in the publication "Stinging . Common signs to watch for: Erythema (redness) Swelling Intense itching Drooling Pawing at the mouth Vomiting Labored breathing Muscle fasciculations (twitching) Incoordination (ataxia) Top 10 Most Dangerous and Poisonous Plants. Typically, a dog will run by the nettle, and the hair tips theyre angled and hollowed will catch on to your dog, entering your pups skin and breaking upon contact. It is a common plant that people can eat. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties it may help with sinus pressure and swelling. This causes erythema (redness), swelling, and intense itching. Stinging caterpillars, and stinging or poisonous insects in general, often sport bright colors and strange shapes. The stinging nettle, with it's jagged leaves, is an incredibly important plant for dozens of species of insects, including some of our most loved butterflies species. But a fresh nettle leaf garnish would hurt. One of these chemicals is formic acid, which causes the painful rash. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. Nettle, also known as Urtica dioica or stinging nettle, is a plant that has many nutritive values. If your cat has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go. Without a photo etc we can't really help ID what you found, but stinging nettle does sting when small. If what you found is all black then may not be stinging nettle, although some have black tinges when assumed to have a lot of iron content, perhaps from high amounts in the soil its growing in. 8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love. Avoid walking through nettles. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines might also help to counteract the reaction that is occurring in your body. The toothed leaves are borne oppositely along the stem, and both the stems and leaves are covered with numerous stinging and non-stinging trichomes (plant hairs). The nutritional value of its protein is better than meat! The plant is considered an herbaceous perennial, meaning that it has herbal properties and grows back in the same areas year after year. Their bodies are covered with urticating spines that contain potentially deadly poison. To avoid the nettle sting, we just wear long sleeves and gloves when we are handling fresh nettle plants. (for humans too!) For young children, you may want to put soft gloves or mittens on their hands to help avoid scratching. Some paw waxes might reduce stinging and soothe afterwards. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Nettles. If you use it raw, first crush the hollow "needles" flat using the blunt end of a knife or pressing down with a drinking glass. First Aid Remedies for Cat Bee Stings But if you see that your cat is uncomfortable or the swelling is causing a problem, ask your vet if you can give your cat over-the-counter diphenhydramine (Benadryl). I have a book on 101 things to do with Stinging nettles,not much help but it might just change your perception of the stinging nettle . Alternatively, the tablets or syrup can be placed carefully on the back of your pets tongue and their mouth held closed until the entire dose has been swallowed. Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are six subspecies of stinging nettle, five of which have stinging properties. They are used as treatments for cats , a sort of new age foo foo supplement. In between the leaves, look for clusters of small greenish or yellow-greenish flowers without petals. Crush the nettles. However, this plant is often also seen as a noxious weed that dominates disturbed areas in or near forests, or in clearings with moist, fertile soil. It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash. Last Updated: September 2, 2022 If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. Dried nettles can also be given to animals. Stinging nettles grow in colonies, typically in the moist, mineral-rich soil of uncultivated areas -- not gardens. And, in nettles, the amino acids are in balance. Stomach upset, cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea, can sometimes be part of an allergic reaction. This acid can redden the skin and cause a non-spreading rash that can last up to 24 hours. A bee stinger can continue to seep venom into the skin for several minutes after the sting is delivered. Subscribe: youtube.com/user/yourdiscoveryscience?sub_confirmation=1Lik. Fireweed (Urtica chamaedryoides), may not be a pasture weed that causes great economic losses from competition, but it can cause distress to people who come in contact with it in their pastures or around the farm. Press J to jump to the feed. May Reduce . It is a member of the Urticaceae family, which includes as many as 500 species worldwide. If you do not have these materials on-hand, for immediate relief, human saliva can be applied to the affected area. 2. Soothe the bite site. When something brushes against these hairs, their very fragile silica tips break off, and the remainder of the hair can then act like a needle. The striking shape and color of the stinging rose caterpillar is typical of the Limacodidae, who don't try to blend in with their surroundings, as most caterpillars do. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. The stems are sharply angled (typically 4-angled), often with bristly-pubescent stinging hairs. Though rare, bee stings do happen near or in the eye. You can also squeeze the juice from a dock plant or jewelweed plant onto your skin to calm the stinging. Calamine lotion applied to the paw pads will soothe the area, but your dog will immediately try to lick this off. ", a child I ended up with stinging nettles, they put mud on me from the lake. Can dogs get stung by nettles on their nose?