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Make Nettle Oil Yourself And Use It In A Variety Of Ways

Even Hildegard von Bingen, the famous polymath of the Middle Ages, appreciated the nettle as a medicinal plant. A tincture or oil with the plant helps against forgetfulness and vein problems. If you are not interested in the healing effect, use nettle oil as edible oil.

Make nettle oil yourself: Here’s how

When the stinging nettles grow rampant again in the bed, this is a nuisance for many hobby gardeners. Not to mention the skin-irritating contact with the stinging hairs on the leaves of the plant. Make a virtue out of necessity: Harvest the weeds and process them into a high-quality edible oil that enriches the menu with a slightly nutty aroma. The oil can be made with different parts of the plant: either you use the seeds or the leaves and stems. The latter makes it easier for you to make your own nettle oil. Tip: If there are any leaves left over, simply use them to make a fine nettle soup.

This is how you can make nettle oil

First you need nettles. In the case of wild collection, a location away from roads, paths, and cultivated areas is recommended in order to prevent contamination. The green plants like to grow in partially shaded locations and can be harvested from April to November. The tender leaves and shoots of the young, not yet blooming herb are best suited for making nettle oil yourself. Wear sturdy gardening gloves when collecting to avoid itchy welts on your hands. To prepare, chop the leaves thoroughly with a sharp knife or in a blender and pour high-quality, cold-pressed olive oil over them in an airtight bottle. For 100 g nettles you need about 100 ml oil. Then leave the herb for at least three days and then enjoy it as a dressing ingredient for our wild herb salad, for example. The shelf life is up to three months.

Make nettle oil yourself and care for your skin or hair

Homemade nettle oil can be used like pumpkin seed oil or other fine edible oils for cold dishes. Another area of application is beauty care. You can use the oil as a shampoo for your hair or as a skin care ointment. In folk medicine, the plant is said to have an effect against hair loss and dandruff. If the oil is too greasy for you, you can boil the chopped weed with water, strain it and wash your hair with it. Or you can make a tincture with alcohol – you can also use nettle roots for this.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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