Don’t assume your plant will match this description. Nettle plants have a high degree of variation, and the name “stinging nettle” actually describes at least two species. [4] X Research source [5] X Trustworthy Source University of California Integrated Pest Management Program Research-based pest management program run by the University of California’s Cooperative Extension Go to source Look for the hairs with your own eyes. The stem also has hairs. These angle down or up the stem on some plants, but poke out perpendicular to the stem on others. If your plant looks like the last type, it’s best to avoid the stem completely.
Nettles often grow in dense patches, so keep an eye out for nearby plants swaying toward you.
If the stem looks safe to grab (with angled hairs), aim for a spot just below the leaf. This will make it easier to pluck the leaf off the plant. [6] X Research source
There’s no guarantee you won’t get stung even with this method. Try this at your own risk.
This remedy may have been invented when nettle stings were thought to contain formic acid. As it turns out, the concentration of formic is probably too low to cause an effect.
Calamine lotion (which may have mild anti-itching properties) Jewelweed (Impatiens species) Dock leaves (Rumex species) Plantain leaves
Nettle is a traditional treatment for arthritis, and there’s some scientific evidence that it works. [16] X Research source So if you suffer from arthritis in the hands, getting stung may actually reduce your pain!
Burning nettle, a very similar plant often mistaken for stinging nettle, can germinate anywhere from late fall through early spring. In mild coastal climates, it may flower year round. [19] X Trustworthy Source University of California Integrated Pest Management Program Research-based pest management program run by the University of California’s Cooperative Extension Go to source
