Nettle is the common name of a group of plants with stinging bristles. Nettles are coarse herbs that grow as weeds in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have tiny flower clusters and leaves that grow opposite one another on the stem.
Nettle bristles contain a watery juice that produces an intense itch when it enters a person’s skin. This itch does not last long. The bristles usually have no effect in places where the skin is thick.
Young shoots of nettle plants can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are a good source of vitamins and protein. People have used nettles for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The stinging nettle of Europe and the United States has been cultivated for its fiber, from which a strong, coarse cloth can be made.
