Howdy folks, let’s talk about makin’ that stinging nettle stuff, you know, the tincture. I ain’t no fancy doctor or nothin’, but I know a thing or two about what works. My old granny used to make this, and it always helped with the achy joints and sniffles.
So, first things first, you gotta get yourself some of them stinging nettles. Now be careful, them things bite! I always wear gloves when I’m messin’ with ’em. You want the leaves and them little flowers, not the tough old stems. Pick a good bunch, enough to fill a jar about half way.
- Pickin’ the nettles: Wear gloves, ya hear? And get the fresh green ones, the young’uns are best.
- Choppin’ the nettles: I just use a regular ol’ knife, nothin’ fancy. Chop ’em up a bit, not too fine, just enough to let the good stuff out.
Next, you need somethin’ strong to soak them nettles in. I use vodka, the cheap stuff works just fine. Some folks like that fancy brandy, but vodka’s good enough for me. Make sure it’s the strong stuff, you know, the kind that burns a little goin’ down. You need enough to cover all them nettles good and proper. The stronger the alcohol the better, gets more of that nettle goodness out, they say.
Now, find yourself a clean jar. I use them old mason jars, the ones my grandma used for canning peaches. Put them chopped up nettles in the jar, then pour in the vodka. Make sure all the nettles are covered up, you don’t want none stickin’ out. Put a lid on the jar, tight now, so it don’t leak.
Then comes the waitin’ part. Find a dark, cool place to put your jar. I keep mine in the pantry, next to the potatoes. You gotta let it sit for a spell, about two or three weeks. Every now and then, give it a good shake, mixes things up, you know? Shaking it good and regular gets all the stinging nettle juice mixed in proper.
After a few weeks, it’s time to strain it. I use a piece of cheesecloth, but an old clean rag works just as good. Pour the stuff through the cloth into another jar, or a bowl, whatever you got handy. Squeeze out all that juice, you don’t want to waste a drop. That liquid, that’s your tincture. It’ll be green, like strong tea, and smell kinda herby. Straining gets all the leaves and bits out so you just have the good stuff left.
Now, how to use it? Well, that’s up to you. I usually put a few drops in a little bit of water and drink it down. It ain’t the tastiest stuff, but it ain’t supposed to be. It helps with them allergies, the kind that make you sneeze and your eyes water. And if your joints are achy, it helps with that too. Some folks say it’s good for other things, but I ain’t no expert. Start with just a little, see how it works for ya, you can always take more if you need it.
Now, some folks ask, can you use dried nettles? Sure you can, but the fresh ones are better, in my opinion. If you gotta use dried, well, then go ahead. Just remember they ain’t as strong, so you might need to use a little more or let it soak a bit longer. And about how much to take? Well, that’s like I said, you start small. A dropperful in some water, a few times a day. But don’t go overboard, you know? Too much of anything ain’t good for ya.
Some people get all scientific about it, talkin’ about “urtica dioica” and all that fancy talk. I just call ’em nettles. And I know they work. This ain’t some newfangled medicine, folks have been usin’ this stuff for ages. My granny used it, and her granny before her. It’s nature’s way, simple as that.
So there you have it, how to make your own stinging nettle tincture. It ain’t rocket science, just some good old common sense and a little bit of patience. If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ natural to help with them aches and sniffles, give it a try. You might just be surprised. Remember, if you’re not sure about somethin’, ask someone who knows, don’t just go around guessin’. And always be careful when you’re messin’ with wild plants.
That’s all I got to say about it. Now go on and make yourself some tincture. You might just find it’s the best darn thing you ever did.
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