Paleo Foraging

Urtica dioica L.

Synonyms: = U. lyallii, U. californica, U. strigosissima, U. serra, U. procera, U. major, U. gracilis, U. viridis

Common name: Stinging nettle

Cahuilla: chikishlyam (Bean and Saubel 1972:143)

Cayuga: goheʹʽcra’s (Waugh 1916:118)

Cherokee: tɔlEdɑ́ / tolEdɑata^dsɑstí – “stinging on you” (Banks 1953:35)

Cree: masān (Leighton 1985:63)

Flathead: cćaxelshp – “sting leaf” (Hart 1979:294)

Gosiute: tin’-ui-gop (Chamberlin 1911:383)

Karok: ‘akviin – “bright” / anievxaat – “smells like under arm” (Schenck and Gifford 1952:383)

Klamath: sleds (Coville 1897:95)

Lakota: čaŋičaxpe hu – “woody whip plant” (Munson 1981:239)

Osage: hadoga (Munson 1981:239)

Menominee: sä’nap (Smith 1923:79)

Ojibwe: masan – “woods” (Smith 1932:392)

Omaha-Ponca: hanuga-hi / manazhiha-hi (Gilmore 1977:25)

Location in Texas: sparse in TX.

Form: herb; perennial.

ID notes: TX has U. dioica L. ssp. gracilis (W. Aiton) N. Selander. U. chamaedryoides is common in central and south TX.

Food

Foliage – cooked like spinach by the Iroquois (Waugh 1916:118). Eaten raw or boiled as greens by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:143).

Gathering Season – freshest in spring and summer but stalks can be found most of the year (Goodrich et al. 1980).

Medicine

Leaves – an infusion was used to soak feet to treat rheumatism by the Flathead (Hart 1979:294). Soaked in warm water and used as a poultice for heat rashes by the Ojibwe (Smith 1932:392).

Stem and leaves – struck against rheumatic area to make skin warm and red to counterirritate rheumatism in California Indians (Goodrich et al. 1980) or aching backs in sweathouses by the

Flathead (Hart 1979:294). Stinging nettles were placed on the body of stiff feet rheumatism (Bean and Saubel 1972:144). Wrapped around the head for headaches (Bean and Saubel 1972:144). A decoction was drunk by Cree after childbirth to improve health (Leighton 1985:63)

Roots – an infusion was drunk to treat stomach pains by the Lakota (Munson 1981:239).

Whole plant – the leaves, stems, and pounded roots were soaked in water, the infusion drunk warm by the Cherokee to treat malaria or fever with chills (Banks 1953:35).

Material

Stems – the dried stems were crumpled in the hands or lightly pounded with a stone to free the fiber for spinning twine and cordage or weave into cloth by the Omaha, Ponca, and other Nebraska tribes (Gilmore 1977:25), the Osage (Munson 1981:239), Natchitoches (Swanton 1996:141), Ojibwe (Smith 1932:423), Menominee (Smith 1923:79), and Klamath (Coville 1897:95). The outer layer of the stems was used (Smith 1932:423). Woven into cloth skirts by the Natchitoches (Swanton 1996:141). Used for sewing fiber (Smith 1923:423). Used for bowstring, cordage, and basketry by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:143).

Experimentation

I have eaten the foliage many times. It is best picked with gloves and put in boiling water to denature the formic acid in the stinging hairs. It has an excellent taste. The water left after boiling makes a nice tea. The plant is highly nutritious.