Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Uses | Formulas or Dosages | Bibliography
Scientific Names
- Galeopsis tetrahit L.
- Mint family
Common Names
- Bastard hemp
- Bee-nettle
- Dog-nettle
- Hemp dead nettle
Parts Usually Used
The plant
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Hemp nettle is an annual weed; the square, branching stem is swollen at the joints and covered with bristly, downward-pointing hairs. The opposite, ovate, coarsely toothed leaves are from 2-5 inches long and bristly on both sides. Dense, whorled, terminal or axillary clusters of pale magenta, 2-lipped flowers with bell-shaped, spiny calyxes appear from June to October.
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Where Found
Hemp Nettle grows in gardens and waste places all over Canada, in Alaska, and from the Great Lakes south to West Virginia.
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Medicinal Properties
Astringent, diuretic, expectorant
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Biochemical Information
Silica 72%
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Uses
Clears up bronchial congestion, hay fever, asthma, bed wetting, various skin diseases, and phlegm and is commonly used for coughs. Recommended for anemia and other blood disorders. Europeans use it as a home remedy for spleen problems and tuberculosis.
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Formulas or Dosages
Infusion: steep 2 tsp. dried herb in 1/2 cup water for 5-10 minutes. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups per day.
Decoction: boil 2 to 4 tsp. dried herb in 1 cup water for 10 minutes. Take 1 cup per day.
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Bibliography
The Herb Book
The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Webster’s New World Dictionary
