Something I thought others may be interested in.
In this lovely weather, out walking, you accidentally brush against those stinging nettle plants, growing next to walkways and the rivers, and have nothing with you to take away the sting?
Grab a bunch of leaves and immediately crush them well in hands and rub over area. The sap in the leaves is an antidote to the sting. Your hands may feel rather strange, but it will not sting.
Sounds crazy I know. And I`ve hesitated over actually trying it! But I got stung the other day - and took the opportunity to do the experiment - and it worked. (desperate measures for a "desperate" situation)
Please try and keep up, at the back
When I was a nipper playing in the fields, and had to wade through loads of nettles, in t-shorts and short trousers, we learnt to pick and rub dock leaves over the effected area ........ and this was over forty years ago
You also forgot to mention that the leaf for doing this should be the Dock Leaf.
Like TiMow something I also learned over 40 years ago!
Nein. The stinging leaf itself! No time to go looking for other leaves - you have the culprit at hand. Not a pleasant feeling - to grab hold of - but it does work.
I don't know if this is true, or just an old wives tale, but apparently there are always dock leaves growing next to nettles, so no need to go looking.
Smoky, you are very brave I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do what you did .
Edit... TiMow beat me to it!
Here is something I also learned over 40 years ago.
If I am in pain from grabbing something, I don;t grab the same thing again!
Next time try a dock leaf, I promise you it will cause you a lot less pain than grabbing more stingy nettles!
It won't be an antidote. The dock leaves produce an anti-inflammatory which may help the stinging sensation subside. You can also treat with baking soda or vinegar or if you want to go all Bear Grylls , you can piss on the affected area.
The best tip is to gently use a bit of sellotape over the sting to bring off any spines still sticking into you.
I thought that was jelly fish.
Only if you can get them to drink enough.
Also
plantago leaves may be helpfull.
"Plantago species have been used since prehistoric times as herbal remedies. The herb is astringent, anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, as well as demulcent, expectorant, styptic and diuretic.[citation needed] Externally, a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison-ivy rashes, minor sores, and boils"
Take revenge!
Nettles are great in omelettes and risotto (among other things).
Tom
I made nettle tea once because it's meant to relieve hay fever symptoms.
All I can say is .
I made a wonderful stinging nettle risotto last night with the stinging nettles my kids (2 and 5 YO) collected at Waldkrippe
Real good stuff and made me feel very "natural mom" (which I am typically so not)
I am pretty sure Nettle tea is very good for the digestive system.
So maybe that why you felt sick.
Nettle risotto is one of my daughters' favorites, but you need to pick young nettles.
Which did you use for your tea, young or old?
Tom
I honestly don't know, but probably ancient ones! Maybe I'll try again some day with young ones.
I picked some nettles, once, from behind a lamp post. All I can say is that the resulting tea tasted like dogs piss.
Brave and interesting mindset - to take more of something that has already caused pain and rub it into the effected area, hoping for relief.
All I can recommend, is that if you're ever stung by a wasp and you see the wasps nest nearby, maybe, this time show a bit of restraint, before plunging the stung body part into the centre of the nest .
Homeopathy in action (like cures like)!