The plant of the month for herbal studies in the Plant Wonder Collective and our Patreon Study Circle is Nettle! This plant was one of the first I came to learn about when I began studying plants myself several years ago. Nettle has a sharp side (quite literally!) but is such a dependable plant ally. This can be applied in both literal and more metaphorical ways. As Adriana Ayales put it in her Herbal Astrology Oracle, nettle’s strong medicine, in turn, teaches us “to be strong, protective, and able to handle life in its complexity.”

There are so many ways to work with nettle. Here are some of my favorite approaches:

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For times when I am feeling depleted, and during some extended periods when I feel I need a long-term daily boost, I make strong nettle teas to add the plant’s beneficial nutrients and wellbeing-boost to my life. 

One such tea blend containing nettle is my Green Magic tea:

3 parts Nettle— nutrition, strong bones, detox, allergies, balancing || strength & protection

3 parts Tulsi— balancing, calm, immune system, focus, inflammation, heart health || harmony, balance, protection, spiritual centering

1 part Rosemary— calm, focus, brain health & memory, longevity, antimicrobial / immune system || protection, cleansing, clarity

1 part Lavender— calm, sleep, antimicrobial, antidepressant || luck, protection, peace, spiritual awareness

2 parts Hawthorn leaf &

1 part Hawthorn berry (crushed with pestle)— inflammation, heart health, calm, balance || emotional heart, healing grief, protection, luck

(I add 2 tablespoons of this mixture to a 32 ounce jar of water and refrigerate overnight.)

I know some of these ingredients might extract more with hot water, but this mix and method works for me and does the job. I feel more energized, focused, calm, and balanced when I sip this cold infusion each day. While I may swap out ingredients at different times, nettle remains the star of the show. 

When I feel the need for some extra protection, nettle is an ally I lean on. Some simple ways I like to do this include tucking some nettle into a tiny linen pouch to carry in a pocket or purse, tucking that same pouch under a pillow to protect dreams, sipping a nettle simple (one-ingredient tea infusion), or dressing beeswax candles with nettle before burning to imbue with that intention. 

While most of the time I am limited to working with dried nettle, I am keeping an eye out for some fresh plant to forage. I would love to make some nettle soup or pesto for some springtime kitchen witching! 

And here is a little nettle printable coloring page I am sharing with you today. I love coloring as a form of mindfulness and relaxation, and have been making herbal coloring pages for years to share in one place or another, so I thought I would continue that tradition here!

Are you working with nettle this month? I would love to hear about the ways you enjoy interacting with this potent plant!