Urtica, or as it is more commonly known, Stinging Nettle, has a well-known reputation for its sting when the skin touches the hairs and bristles on the leaves and stems. The name Urtica comes from the Latin verb urere, meaning `to burn’.
Interestingly when the fine hairs on the Urtica plant come into contact with a painful area of the body they can actually cause a decrease in the original pain! Alfred Vogel was one who advocated this treatment to a number of his patients.
Today A. Vogel is kinder and the leaves and roots of Urtica plants are carefully harvested and manufactured twice yearly into a tincture.
