Urtica dioica, U.urens, U. gracilis 

Common Name: Nettle, Stinging Nettle, Wild Spinach, Devil’s Leaf
Family: Urticaceae
Part(s) Used: Leaves, Roots, Seeds
Energetics: Neutral
Taste: Sweet, bland, astringent
Actions: Nutritive, diuretic, hemostatic, astringent, anti-allergenic, inflammation-modulating, galactagogue, emollient
Constituents: Histamine, vitamins A and D, iron, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, silica, chlorophyll
Tissue State: Atrophy, relaxation, deficiency
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Zodiac: Aries

Magickal and Ritual Uses

Ruled by Mars and pulsing with fire, Nettle is a fierce plant spirit of protection and vitality. She defends boundaries, both physical and energetic, and demands respect! Call on Nettle in your spell work to ward off negative energy, empower your root chakra, and rebuild your strength after burnout. Sprinkle dried leaf around your home for protection, tuck it into charm bags, or burn it with intention during Aries season to call in courage, stamina, and a fresh wave of energy. Even the seed carries power. Use it in talismans for endurance and magical stamina.

Potions and Brews

Habitat and Botanical Description: 

Nettle is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, Asia and Western North Africa that now grows throughout temperate regions of the world. Find Nettle in sunny areas along lakes and streams, at the edge of forests, mountain slopes, woodland clearings and in disturbed areas such as roadsides. It prefers rich, moist soil and makes an excellent addition to the compost pile due to its high nitrogen content. Nettle grows from 2-6 feet tall on a square, fibrous stem. The dark green leaves are ovate and sharply toothed located in opposite pairs and become progressively smaller toward the top of the stem. The leaves and stems are covered with tiny, hollow hairs tipped with silica. Nettle spreads by rhizomes, so each plant can have multiple stems and thus nettle typically grows in dense colonies.

Medicinal Uses:

Nettle is both food and medicine. A fierce and generous herbal ally who has stood with us for centuries. She grows where wild edges meet the cultivated world, offering her sting as both protection and invitation. Rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, and nourishing vitamins A, C, E, and K, Nettle feeds the blood, strengthens the bones, and fortifies the spirit. Her gifts are not fleeting; she rebuilds from the roots up, offering deep, cellular nourishment to those worn thin by modern life.

A trusted companion in times of transition, Nettle soothes seasonal allergies, clears dampness and stagnation from the genitourinary tract, and lends her diuretic magic to flush out what no longer serves. She eases fluid retention, calms irritated tissues, and gently supports the passage of gravel or stones from the kidneys. Her action is steady and grounding, reminding us that healing is often a process of slow reclamation.

For women, she is a wise crone plant, nourishing throughout the cycle, from easing PMS irritability and depletion to enriching breast milk and restoring blood after childbirth or heavy menstruation. Her hemostatic qualities make her helpful for those experiencing excessive bleeding, whether from mid-cycle spotting or minor hemorrhoidal inflammation.

For men, the root brings its own kind of medicine, anchoring and protecting the lower body. Especially potent for the prostate, nettle root helps reduce nighttime urination, ease inflammation, and support tissue integrity in times of stress or aging. It pairs beautifully with the leaf, which adds diuretic strength and deep nourishment.

After illness, stress, or burnout, Nettle arrives like a green witch with a cauldron full of life force. She tones and strengthens what has been weakened, rebuilds what’s been depleted, and gently coaxes vitality back into the bones and blood. She doesn’t just help you recover, she helps you remember what it feels like to be fully alive.

Beauty and Glamour Magick

Nettle has long been revered in beauty rituals for her deep mineral magick. Rich in silica, calcium, magnesium, and iron, she strengthens the hair from root to tip, soothes the scalp, and brings a grounded glow to your natural radiance. When infused into apple cider vinegar, she becomes a potent tonic—used regularly to promote growth, enhance shine, and deepen natural tones (especially for darker hair).

Nettle Vinegar Hair Rinse

Ingredients:
– Fresh or dried nettle leaf
– Raw apple cider vinegar
– Glass jar with lid (use parchment if your lid is metal)

To Make:
Fill a clean jar with fresh nettle (or halfway with dried). Cover completely with apple cider vinegar. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for 2–4 weeks, shaking gently each day. When ready, strain and store in a bottle.

To Use:
Dilute 1 cup nettle vinegar in 1 cup water. After washing your hair, pour the rinse slowly over your scalp and strands. Massage gently. Rinse it out after a few minutes. 

Astrological and Elemental Influence

Nettle is ruled by Mars, the fiery planet of action, vitality, and forward momentum. Astrologically, she aligns most closely with Aries, the zodiac’s first sign and spark of spring, and the season of her emergence! Aries governs the head and initiates the zodiac with passion, instinct, and drive. Nettle, in her full-bodied green presence, mirrors this boldness. She pierces through winter’s stagnancy with her sting, clearing the way for growth and movement.

Like Aries, Nettle is a warrior plant, protective, energizing, and always ready to restore strength. Her influence is both physical and energetic: nourishing the blood, strengthening kidneys, toning skin, and rebuilding tissues. Her diuretic and blood-building actions reflect Aries’ impulse to clear, renew, and move forward.

For those with strong Aries or Mars placements, Nettle is a powerful ally, supporting stamina and resilience while reminding us to ground our fire. For those who lack Aries’ spark, she fans the flame gently, calling vitality back into the body.

In times of fatigue or depletion, Nettle, whether through tea, tincture, or ritual can reignite your inner fire without overwhelming the nervous system. She teaches that strength doesn’t always come from force, it can rise from nourishment, patience, and rhythm.

Work with her during Aries season in spells for courage, renewal, and protection. Add her to charm bags for endurance or sip her infusion before new beginnings. Burn her dried leaves in ritual fires to dispel stagnation and energize your path.

Harvesting:

Nettle is not a plant to be taken lightly, she demands respect, presence, and a steady hand. Cloaked in stinging hairs, she is a guardian of boundaries. Harvesting her is a ritual of its own. Wear gloves, or move with intention and bare hands if you wish to receive her fire directly.

Her prime gathering time is early spring, during Aries season, when her energy rises with the sun. Harvest before she flowers, when her nutrients peak. For fresh use, snip the top two to three leaf pairs. These young tops are ideal for infusions, fresh tinctures, wild pestos (blanched first), soups, or juices.

For drying, cut the top third of the plant and bundle with twine. Hang upside down in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight. Once dry, strip leaves carefully and store in airtight jars. Most of her sting fades, but a few hairs may linger, so handle with care.

Her tiny seeds, best gathered in late summer to early fall (under Libra's influence).  Harvest them gently by shaking into a paper bag or stripping by hand.

Recommended Products:

• Witch in the Woods Hair Elixir

Contraindications:

Nettle is nourishing, but she is no docile herb. Her stinging hairs deliver histamine, formic acid, and other compounds that can sting for minutes, hours... Some of my stings have lasted days! Her sting is both warning and wisdom.

Always cook, blanch, steam, or dry Nettle before consuming, this neutralizes the sting and awakens her gentler nature. If using fresh in foods like pesto or smoothies, quick blanching is essential. Even dried nettle can retain stray hairs, so strain infusions if you’re sensitive.

Avoid nettle if allergic to the Urticaceae family. Because of her strong diuretic and blood-building properties, those on blood pressure meds, blood thinners, or managing kidney conditions should consult a practitioner.

During pregnancy, large doses, especially of the root, should be used with caution. Nettle leaf, in appropriate doses, can be supportive during pregnancy and postpartum. As always, seek guidance when working deeply with this powerful plant.

Nettle does not take kindly to haste. She teaches boundaries, consent, and intentional connection. Work with her respectfully, and she will offer strength, vitality, and protection. Misuse her magick, and you may just get stung.