The stinging nettle has always been known as a medicinal plant. It has a draining, blood-cleansing effect and replenishes the iron stores in the body. Now it should also be poisonous?
The nettle toxin, which irritates the skin, is in the hairs of the stinging nettles
Nettle poison as the culprit
In the fine hairs, which are particularly found on the leaves and stems of the stinging nettle, there is a poison, the so-called nettle poison. It consists among others of:
- histamine
- acetylcholine
- formic acid
- serotonin
The stinging nettle uses this poison to keep predators at bay. It does not have a lethal effect on the human organism, nor on domestic and grazing animals. But it deters when the skin or tongue comes into contact with it… Pests and weeds can be destroyed with it…
tips
The stinging nettle is healthy and edible. For consumption, it is advisable to use the young shoots in particular, as the older shoots can be extremely rich in nitrates.