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Stinging Nettle drying and Cystolith elimination.
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Posted by greatriver 4b (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 20:57
| I just cut a large quantity of four foot nettles and am drying them for possible use by myself and as a dry supplement for my sheep. According to Wikipedia, "Cooking or drying completely neutralizes the toxic components of this plant. After Stinging Nettle enters its flowering and seed setting stages, the leaves develop gritty particles called "Cystoliths,' which can irritate the urinary tract." I have also heard that nettles in the post flowering stage can be bad for the kidneys. My plants are in between the flowing and seed setting stage. Does anyone know if drying them will neutralize the Cystoliths in particular, in addition to the other toxic compounds? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Stinging Nettle drying and Cystolith elimination.
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| If your nettles are this late in the game, don't pick them for the leaves. You want nettles earlier in the year, before flowering. And, if you keep cutting nettles, you can get several harvests before they set seed. David Winston, a respected herbalist, uses nettle seed for some kidney disorders. |
RE: Stinging Nettle drying and Cystolith elimination.
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| Do you think the ones I just cut would be ok as hay for sheep, even though they have blossomed? Normally, they relish dried nettles. Also, I cut these back to about 1 foot high stems. There are no leaves on them, but I expect they will re-sprout. Would their leaves be safe even though they previously blossomed? |
RE: Stinging Nettle drying and Cystolith elimination.
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| Nettles cut this late would still be good in the compost pile, while the re-growth will be tender and fresh like spring growth- BUT not for as long a time. I'd let the leaves get full size and cut them. |
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