Stinging Nettle Syrup – The “Rejuvenation Elixir”

Fresh Nettle leaves in a basket.

Nettles are associated with the war god and fire lord Mars, which is why it is also known in Romanian folklore as “the weed of Marţ”. Its resistance to cold inspired the Romanian people since the oldest of times to consume it as the first food of spring and to create the recipe for the Rejuvenation Elixir with the Stinging Nettle as the main ingredient. Photo: Flickr.

We continue our spring journey into the world of plants, Romanian lore, tradition, and contemporary witchcraft, by learning how to work more efficiently with The Stinging Nettle – the fire in the garden. If last time I presented to you how to make Stinging Nettle Tea – the “Healing Fire”, which is perfect for spring purging, this time I present to you the Rejuvenation Elixir, which is perfect to restore your youthful vigor.

Coming out of the cold winter, you need to rejuvenate. It is essential to sharpening your witchy senses. Through spring, Nature brings forth everything we need to restore our youthful vigor. And in order to align ourselves with the rebirth of Old Dokia and the reawakening of Nature, we turn to traditions such as the gathering of seasonal herbs that help us rejuvenate naturally. The gathering of nettles in the month of March is a long-held tradition among Romanians, who use them in a number of ways to restore good health and strengthen their immune system.

Rejuvenation Elixir May Help: 

  • low energy levels, fatigue
  • poor immunity
  • anemia
  • dysentery
  • inflammation and fever
  • detoxification
  • rheumatism and arthritis
  • bleeding
  • tissue regeneration
  • hair loss
  • coughs
  • asthma
  • stress

Stinging nettles have a distinct significance that associates them with the primordial forces of the season. They are natural effigies of the battle between summer and winter and their sting causes healing burning sensations just like the war god’s fire. In fact, they are truly powerful healing plants that can help you restore and maintain your health naturally.

The “Rejuvenation Elixir” is a traditional remedy that the Romanian people have been using since very old times to restore their vigor after long and cold winters. It is a simple mixture that contains stinging nettle and honey, which makes it a natural remedy for multiple health conditions.

How to prepare the Rejuvenation Elixir

Basket and jar with fresh collected nettle leaves and sprouts. Common nettle, but they are not stinging yet, as the nettle sprouts are young - left for drying.

The Rejuvenation Elixir is a natural medicine for Spring asthenia and it is meant to revitalize the body after winter, protecting it from allergies, cold, and fatigue. Photo: Cristina Sanvito CC.

Because of the iron dense nettles and energy boosting honey, this elixir is a great remedy for those who experience physical weakness, anemia, or spring asthenia. But it is also excellent in helping relive rheumatism and arthritis symptoms. Furthermore, it helps with asthma, coughs, and various skin conditions. You only need two ingredients to make this elixir and just a little bit of commitment, but it’s fairly quick and easy.

Ingredients

  • 40-50 fresh nettle leaves
  • 200-250g honey

Nettle

  • benefits the endocrine system
  • stimulates the libido
  • rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
  • improves circulation
  • helps treat throat infections
  • kills parasites
  • boosts immunity
  • protects against cellular damage
  • promotes feminine health
  • improves skin and hair
  • increases energy levels

Honey

  • natural energetic
  • antiseptic properties
  • strengthens the immune system
  • effectively treats coughs
  • improves cholesterol levels
  • helps lower blood pressure
  • promotes heart health
  • helps digest stored fat
  • improves the skin
  • reduces gastrointestinal disorders
  • regulates blood sugar levels

Instructions:

  • Wash and pick the fresh nettle leaves in cold water.
  • If you want to make sure that you got rid of the needles, you can rub the nettle leaves in a towel, and then rinse them again to make sure there’s no residue on them.
  • Finely chop (or mash) the nettle leaves and place them in a jar.
  • Only fill the jar with the nettle leaves up to 3 quarters, and pour the honey over the nettle leaves until the jar is filled.
  • Close the lid and vigorously shake the jar before placing it in the fridge.
  • Let it sit and soak for 30 days, but make sure that you shake the jar every day, during that period.
  • After 30 days, filter the mixture to obtain the syrup.
  • Store the syrup in the fridge.

Eat a spoonful a day, every morning on an empty stomach for 3 weeks, and you will notice how this ritual will improve your overall well-being each day. You can soon expect to feel more energetic and focused. And if you’ve been experiencing joint pain or coughs before taking this elixir, you’ll notice how these symptoms will be significantly reduced.

Restore your youthful vigor

Macro of burning nettle leave. Stings of common nettle leave. Green against black background

Stinging Nettles appear at the beginning of spring to offer us a small “green pharmacy”. The leaves are rich in silicic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfate salts which make the Rejuvenation Elixir a potent medicine.

Seasonal spring herbs, such as nettles, have everything they need to survive the battle between winter and summer. They are there to remind you that you only need to reach out to Nature to ensure that you get the right treatment for the season. So take advantage of that and treat yourself to natural rejuvenation. Use this opportunity to strengthen your immune system and energize your body while aligning yourself with the life force that reawakens this season.

Be mindful and aware when you prepare this elixir because that mindfulness will prove itself rewarding. It truly is a matter of “what you put in, comes back out to you”. Do it out of love for yourself. Go nettle picking and be grateful to mother nature, for she knows best.

Nettlesgarden - The Old Craft

www.Nettlesgarden.com – The Old Craft

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Latest comments
  • Hi, I really like your idea and I’ve made up my honey and nettle mixture today. Just wondering what would be the best way to strain this? A normal sieve or would you use something finer like a filter or cloth? Thank you! Regards from the Wicklow Witch

    • Hi Denise!

      You could actuall use a typical kitchen strainer as the leaves should be big enough. Cheesecloth would be more for much finer herbal infusions. Also, personally I would adapt here a bit the recipe instructions and keep the honey in a warm place and shake the glass once a day to keep it liquid. After the infused honey is strained I would move it to a cold place.

      It will obviously depend also a bit on the kind of honey you use.

      • Thank you for this amazing recipe! Very easy to make and it really worked after only a few days of continues intake. Very nice in tea.

  • Thank you for the recipe. Sounds wonderful. Can the whole thing be taken without straining?? Thank you!

  • Sure, but the nettle leaves may not be to everyones taste 🙂

  • Can I use nettles picked now

    • Hey, John

      that depends on the individual plants. As a rule of thumb, the best time to harvest in when the plants are shortly before their flower / starting to bear fruits. This is when the plant is on its peak of power and you get the maximum out of it. Later stages are not without effect, but in most cases somewhat weaker.
      Nettles are no exceptions here, best are the plants from spring or early summer, shortly before flowering. leaves are still tender. But you can use also later plants.

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