How to Make Nettle Tincture: Recipe and Uses

Nettle, also known as bull nettle, stinging nettle, and itch weed grows along the banks of rivers and creeks. It is used as a detoxifying tonic. Nettle is particularly useful for treating hay fever, seasonal allergies, gout, rheumatism and arthritis. The recipe below is for an alcohol based tincture prepared from fresh or dried nettle leaves, plant or roots.

Instructions

• 1

  Fresh Nettle Tincture

  Collect and rinse the nettle. Wear gloves while doing this to prevent an itchy rash and nettle has itch inducing needles on the bottoms of the leaves. Allow the nettle to air dry. Chop 1 cup of fresh nettle and place it in a clean glass jar. Cover the nettle with 2 cups of vodka.

• 2

  Dried Nettle Tincture

  Chop 1/2 cup of dried nettle. Place the nettle in a glass jar. Add 3/4 cup vodka and 3/4 cup water to the jar.

• 3

  Seal the jar of nettle tincture with a tight lid. Shake the jar well.

• 4

  Allow the nettle to infuse into the alcohol for 2 weeks. Shake the nettle tincture daily as it infuses.

• 5

  After 2 weeks has passed strain the nettle from the tincture.

• 6

  Place the tincture in dark colored, glass jars with a dropper. Label the jar "nettle tincture" and put the date of preparation on the jar. Nettle tincture will last several years if stored properly.

• 7

  Use 2 ml of tincture 3 times a day as an adult dose for the conditions listed above.