When we hear the name stinging nettle it's enough to make us sit up. I remember when i was young i would frequently get stung by these plants.The species is divided into six subspecies of which five have hollow stinging hairs named trichomes which act like tiny needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that will stinging when in contact by humans skin even its stems also have needle like trichomes.
The plant has been used for medicine and food for many generations.
This plant typically grows as high as 1 to 2 m tall and has a short life span as we near the winter months. It for its bright yellow, flowers and roots. There leaves are 3 to 15 cm long and are usually found opposite each other on the stem.
Though they sting nettles are exclusive larval food loved by a few species of butterflies larvae, such as the peacock butterfly
or small tortoiseshell are also eaten by the larvae of some moths like angle shades, buff ermine, dot moth.
Stinging nettle loves the wetter environments, but also flourish in meadows or forest like environments.
Abundant in northern Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America, Canada, Mexico and strange enough cannot be found in Hawaii its also like's high rainfall areas.
I have found that no matter how much you have been stung the best medicine is just to stay away from this plant unless you wearing the proper gear when you are cultivating it for food or medicinal use. The sting is best treated with anti sting ointment that is easily obtainable over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Nettle has a similar flavor to spinach just make sure that it is cooked or steamed properly or it will leave a lasting sting on the tongue. Nettle has one of the richest forms of vitamins like A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. Soaking nettles in water or cooking removes the stinging chemicals from the plant, which allows you to actually eat it without a swollen tongue now picture that, care needs to be taken when the leaves are harvested from a mature plant has it is known to irritate the urinary tract caused of the cystoliths found in mature leaves.
The leaves can also be dried and may then be used to make a herbal tea with the flowers, Nettle soup can also be
made with the leaves believe it or not it can also be used in cheeses like Cornish Yarg and Gouda-
Yearly in the UK,the World Nettle Eating Championship attract thousands of people to a town called Dorset, where competitors tries to eat as much of the raw plant as possible damn serious no thank you. Whoever strips and eats the most stinging nettle leaves in a certain time is the winner. The competition has started back in 1986.
Nettle is also used in the textile and manufacture industry and have also been used for more than 2000 years and German uniforms were exclusively made from it in world war 1.
Nutritional information:
2.4% water
5.5% protein
0.7 to 3.3% fat
1% carbohydrates
40% α- linolenic acid
omega-3 acid
What a wonderful plant i was recently at a friends organic farm and i was fortunate to get some leaves from him that was growing wild on his farm to see my article go here
https://steemit.com/food/@rogerblu/day-on-an-amazing-organic-farm
See my other articles here
https://steemit.com/food/@rogerblu/late-afternoon-eatables
https://steemit.com/spiritual/@rogerblu/encouragement-is-all-we-need
Will be posting my nettle tea making this weekendso please follow me 
O' and before i go don't forget to show some support 
Until we chat again