Today I was outside walking past some really tall stinging nettle plants. I brushed the back of my hand against one and knew I would soon feel the sting. I wasn’t sure if I could find some spray-on sting-stopping stuff we usually have in the bathroom cabinet and decided instead to invent a home remedy.I had no idea where to start as I opened the kitchen cabinet and poked around. Let’s try some bicarbonate of soda. I wet the stinging area and sprinkled on some baking soda. Nope. Maybe I should try the opposite, some acidic thing. Vinegar produced the same non-relief. Well let’s try oil. Even extra-virgin olive oil had no effect. Ketchup? Nope. Same for prepared mustard. Well now, it’s time to get really creative. How about salt from the sea harvested by barefoot Frenchmen—fleur de sel. Surely something that costs so much would have magical powers. Nope. I licked that off the sting so as not to waste it. Tasty!
Maybe there’s something magic in the fridge. A leaf of bok choy? A carrot? Some three-day old creamed chicken on egg noodles? Hmm-m. This is getting ridiculous. Mayonnaise? Lemon sorbet? Ice? None worked.
Back to the kitchen cabinet. Worcester sauce doesn’t work either, and I decided against opening a new jar of chunky peanut butter. Okay, I give up. Oh, by the way, I just noticed that the stinging has subsided. Which of these remedies was the one that worked or was it the combination? I looked at the clock. I had been trying all these things for about fifteen minutes; was it time instead that did the trick? I’d better write that down so I don’t mis-remember and later think the magic remedy was—Thyme.
9 comments:
next thyme try hot waxing the area :) It'll pull those nettles (and any hair - bonus!) right out.
Hot wax, eh? How hot? Do I toss a candle in a kettle? Drip a candle that’s burning? How do I treat the burn? With mayonnaise?
You may also try garlic, ginger and my favorite, lemon juice
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Wrong! Go out pick the nettles and eat them, seasoned with that thyme you have sitting on the counter!
Here they make soup, tea, bread and pesto with nettles.
Very good for you, loaded with iron. Will put some extra pep in your step. Good for stomach pain, kidney stones, will help relieve stress and that is just "for starters"..... so there! You will be rid of the nettles and will have no need for a doctor. hi, hi, A
Hornbill: Tasty recipe!
Neta: That’s a nice revenge—you bite me, I bite you, nettle!
For my remedy, buy a wax melting pot from a beauty therapist. Also buy beeswax and a roll of wax ripping strips from the same place. Only heat the wax to a point skin can stand it, not so it will burn. Apply the wax with a small spatula to the skin where you have been stung by nettles. Allow to cool slightly and press the wax ripping strip into the wax. Note the direction your hair grows. Quickly rip the strip off your skin against the direction of your hair growth. Try not to scream too loud from the pain of ripping out the hair and stingers so you do not scare anyone within hearing range. You will be hairless AND nettle-less where the wax was. Bonus! THEN apply the mayonnaise to take away some of the pain and moisturise the traumatised skin.
Ask Robbie about stinging nettles and hot wax. One year he had very smooth knees for awhile :)
Susan, you might have missed the point. You say, “Try not to scream too loud from the pain of ripping out the hair and stingers…” The whole idea is to end the pain in the first place. Maybe I’ll just ignore the pain and stick with thym—I mean TIME. I’ll try “Agneta’s revenge,” EATING the nettles! We’ve done this before and the taste is wonderful, like wild and crazy spinach. But pick them with gloves!
I see what you are saying but the pain does go away after the ripping and screaming bits :) He he he!!
I like nettle tea too by the way. There's another method for you to get some revenge happening. Dry it and pour boiling water on it. But keep your gloves on while you are picking it.
The Solution! From our favorite Earth Mama, Susie Hickman, came the native remedy—leaves of the dock plant. Pick a leaf, chew it a little to release its juicy essence, and rub the leaf on the affected area. Done! We have tons of dock, by the way. And it’s also good to eat.
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