FORAGING GUIDE
Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioica
WORDS LEIGH JOSEPH
ARTWORK VALERIE RAYNARD
Squamish Language: ts’exts’ix
Range: Stinging nettle is found growing in abundance from Alaska, through British Columbia as far south as Oregon.
Habitat: Found growing in rich, moist soil along streams, rivers, meadows, and open forest. This plant thrives
in disturbed habitats such as village sites, roadsides, and barnyards.
Parts of plant used: New spring shoots and leaves
S
tinging nettle is a nutritious spring green that has
many uses, and once identified, may become
a staple for your spring foraging. This plant is
a perennial and grows as tall as 1.5–2.5 metres at
maturity. The stem is usually less than one centimetre in diameter and the coarsely saw-toothed leaves
are lance-shaped to oval and have a pointed tip and
a heart-shaped base. The leaves are found growing in
opposite pairs along the stalk.
The leaves and stem have stinging hairs that
contain formic acid and can cause a stinging reaction when they come in contact with the skin; thus,
many people opt to wear gloves when harvesting.
Cooking or drying destroys the stinging properties;
this includes drying nettles for tea, sautéing, steaming, or baking.
Stinging nettles are best harvested for eating
when the young shoots are less than a foot tall and
still have a purple tinge to the leaves. They are at their
most tender then. They can continue to be harvested
beyond this height but they do get more fibrous as
they grow and eventually will be too tough to eat.
These nettles are rich in Vitamins A and C as well
as in minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium,
and potassium. They are a delicious substitute for
spinach, and can be added to soups and stir fries for
added nutrition and vibrant color. The leaves can also
be dried and used to make a healthy tea. Stinging
nettle can be used in a bath to help with rheumatism, and the mature plant can be processed to make
strong cordage. Many coastal First Nations, including Squamish, used this cordage to make strong fish
nets and fishing line.
The origins of this plant are not certain. It is likely
that Urtica dioica was brought here from England long
ago but there were also species of Urtica native to
Canada that hybridize readily with Urtica dioica. The
food uses and plant properties are identical.
The Squamish name for stinging nettle, ts’exts’ix,
comes from the root word ts’ix meaning singed or
burned. My great uncle has told me that the stinging
indicates the power and medicine in this plant. He has
used the fresh plant to sting himself on his arthritic
joints to help with pain. He believes that the local sting
from the nettle increases blood flow and helps with
swelling and pain.
Squamish People know that when the stinging
nettle is a few inches tall this marks the time that the
baby seals are born. This is an example of the deep
connection that develops between people and their
natural environments over thousands of years being
spent out on the land.
SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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