With the onslaught of mast cell issues I am seeing lately, I want to take a minute to discuss this wonderful food plant used medicinally in my apothecary. I buy it by the pound and always have a good supply on hand. I take it daily to support kidney function (increases filtration of the kidneys) as well as for its mineral profile. Containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and B vitamins like folate and niacin, vitamins A (in a few forms) and K too…..it’s pretty much a ‘super food’ and it doesn’t grow in the rain forest! *insert a bit of sarcasm.
Spring nettle greens can be eaten cooked for a delicious side dish, (be careful, she’s prickly!) or dried and used in tea or extract (aka tincture) and I use it in many formulations to support the body. Because of its nutrient profile, it supports the whole body: immune, liver, kidneys, nervous and endocrine systems.
So, back to mast cells. This plant is integral in allergy formulations, for example spring or fall allergies (and some people just suffer all year long), so adding this into the diets, hearts, and minds of the people seeking help can reduce the suffering these irritating maladies can have on a person. Since The COVID, the mast cell activation for some people has been extremely hard. Mast cells are immune cells that produce histamine (and heparin: a blood thinner) when activated and are located on connective tissues all over the body but especially predominant in tissues that are exposed tot he outside world: skin, digestive tract. They are the culprits that create the histamine which is activated when the cells sense ‘danger’ and this histamine is responsible for the sneezing, hives, and even gut issues in some as well as a cascade of immune signals (prostaglandins and interleukins) that cause inflammation.
Mast cell dysfunction issues: termed Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and mastocytosis, is an ever-growing imbalance in our world. Both are correlated with vaccination, leaky gut (all dis-ease begins in the gut!), and autoimmunity (also associated with leaky gut, stress and vaccination). I find a correlation with chronic Lyme Dis-ease as well. People who have a history of asthma, eczema, and seasonal allergies have mast cell issues that can get worse. Some develop urticaria syndromes (hives due to a change in temperature), some have gut issues, and the typical symptoms are itchy eyes, allergic asthma symptoms that worsen, hive-y conditions, gut dysbiosis etc. It’s a complicated issue and no ONE plant is the panacea, but nettles is one of the best in regards to reducing the histamine response. As stated above, I use it in blends for allergies, kidney, liver etc, and if someone is suffering from mast cell dysfunction, I instruct them to use nettles in vast quantities. (Tea: 1oz nettles to 1 quart hot water, or Hydroethanolic Extract: 1 tablespoon 2 to 3 times daily: 1:5 50%EToH) I combine this with about 1500-2000 mgs quercetin daily as well (start with 500 mgs and work your way up to 2,000 as some can experience rebound issues if they start with 2,000 mgs a day and miss a dose).
I hope this information helps some people out there suffering from this ever-growing issue. So if you are experiencing more allergies than usual after the COVID vaccines, or after COVID infection, try some nettles. They are cheap, easy to grow, not endangered, and considered very safe. Be mindful they are diuretic so be sure you are drinking plenty of water daily. (1/2 your body weight in ounces). Also if you are already on diuretics, consult with an experienced herbalist before trying vast quantities.
Thanks for reading.
~Sara