Nettle Infusion Recipe

One of my favorite herbs to use with my clients who come to me depleted, histamine intolerance, endometriosis and estrogen dominance is stinging nettle leaf (Urtica dioica). 

Some of the benefits include:

• Excellent source of iron, which combats anemia, fatigue + supports red blood cell production.
• Anti-inflammatory + antihistamine properties that can help with allergies, histamine intolerance
• Help break up uric acid in the body to improve joint pain + even arthritis
• Supports kidney + liver detoxification
• Helps with estrogen detoxification + hormone balance.
• Supports adrenal health 

It also has a CRAP ton of KEY NUTRIENTS and can be as nutrient rich as a multi-vitamin, especially if made as infusions. Yes, regular cups of nettle tea can still be beneficial, but infusions are MORE potent + have higher nutrient levels. And if you're someone who is working through gut healing, your body will be able to absorb these nutrients easier than from a multivitamin.

Some other vitamins + minerals jam packed into this herb include calcium, magnesium, B complex vitamins, C complex, vitamins A, D and K as well as protein, cobalt, trace minerals, potassium, iodine, boron, manganese, zinc, copper and sulfur.

I'd skip the expensive multivitamin you may not even be able to asbsorb and grab you some nettle!

Heck, I've even had clients get to a place where they're able to stop taking their daily allergy medication and drastically improve so many symptoms just by adding nettle into their routines.

I also love to infuse nettle (and some other nutrient dense herbs) into my bone broth!! Check out my nutritive bone broth recipe here. 

But back to the infusions.

So how do you make a Nettle Infusion?

First, you need to get some nettle!! You can get a LOT for not that much either. You can snag some here from my fave online apothecary, Golden Poppy, (code rita_utterback saves you 15%) or you can snag some from amazon here!

NEXT:

1. Get some mason jars: 1 quart is best, but you can use bigger ones for double batches. (It's easy to go through 1 quart and if you don't to have to make as frequently, opt for larger jars if possible)

2. Heat up 1 quart of water to near boiling. As it’s heating up, add 1/4-1 whole cup (I usually do 1 up. We like a POTENT infusion) of dried nettle leaf to an empty quart Mason jar.

3. Add the water to the nettle in your jar. Put a lid on it and let it sit anywhere from 4 hours to overnight.

4. After letting it sit, strain herbs with a strainer like this!

5. You can use the herbs for a second weaker batch or compost them! The weaker batch can be use for drinking, feeding plants, in a bath, or even as a hair rinse.

While bitter, the taste is honestly soothing in my opinion!! And seeing the IMMEDIATE benefits, especially being someone who has struggled with histamine intolerance/ symptoms post-covid on top of having endo.

You can drink anywhere from 2-4 cups a day (depending on how much liquid your herbs absorbed) for the first 4-6 weeks and then drop down to a couple times of week! Also amazing to whip out during season changes where you know you may experience more allergy symptoms!

Hope you enjoy!