Otitis

Nettle: why does it sting and why is it needed at all? Why does nettle sting: features, useful and interesting facts The effect of nettle on the body.

Galina Fundurak

Research work"Why do nettles sting?"

Supervisor: teacher of MBDOU No. 25 Fundurak. G.V.

Researcher: Orobei Veronica 5 years old.

Target: get to know the beneficial properties nettle

Tasks:

1. Find out why are the hairs on nettle leaves special?? What's inside them?

2. What happens to them when we touch nettle?

3. Why it’s useful nettle?

Hypothesis: Suppose that when you touch nettle, hairs can damage the skin and cause irritation.

Methods research:

experienced research activities

Hello dear adults and children. My name is Orobei Veronica, I am 5 years old, I go to the senior group of kindergarten No. 25. My the research topic is called"Why do nettles sting?"

“Oh, don’t touch me! I’ll burn you without fire!”

What is this? (nettle)

As soon as they don't scold nettle, which is only guilty of knowing how to defend itself.

But nettle and delicious, and useful. Cows, goats, sheep, and pigs would happily eat it. Just go and touch her. But if nettle chop it up and scald it with boiling water, the feed for livestock will be such that, as they say, you won’t be able to pull it away by the ears.

Got it nettle and our table. Long since young nettle they cook borscht, make salads, even ferment it like cabbage.

And in the old days from fibers nettles made fabric, ropes, fishing nets.

Nettle used in cosmetology. Do nettle lotion, shampoos, hand cream.

Nettle - dye.

From the roots nettles make yellow, and from the leaves - green paint.

I wanted to check for myself if this was true. Mom and I brewed leaves nettle When the infusion was infused, a gauze cloth was placed in it. After holding the fabric for some time in this infusion, I saw that it had acquired a dark green color.

Well, if nettle is so beneficial, why does it burn so much? How nettle burns without fire? After all, it doesn’t seem to have sharp thorns or thorns?

I was interested in this question. And we spent with the teacher Galina Vasilievna research work.

We looked at the branch nettle. and noticed that its stems and leaves were covered with some kind of hairs that were barely visible.

Then we decided to consider the twig nettles under a microscope. And they saw that the hairs were on the branches and leaves nettles are very sharp. Similar to the needle of a small syringe. When you touch nettle, these hairs can damage our skin.

But why does a burn occur?. it was still not clear. We put on gloves and crushed the twig. nettle and looked at her again.

Some hairs were broken. Some liquid was leaking from them.

Galina Vasilievna explained that this is formic acid.

Conclusion:

Hairs nettles are so sharp, which immediately digs into the skin and breaks, and that same “burning” flows out from inside, causing blisters to appear on children’s hands and feet, and tears in their eyes. It turns out Why does nettle burn even without fire?!

Thank you for your attention!

Publications on the topic:

Municipal autonomous preschool educational institution kindergarten of general developmental type No. 6 “Zvezdochka” 142001, Moscow region. ,.

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Nettle (from the Latin word Urtica) is a genus of plants that is part of the nettle family. In total, there are about 50 species in the genus, most of which grow in the temperate climate zone in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Stinging nettle is the most common in our country - we’ll talk about it today.

So, here is a perennial herbaceous plant with a long rhizome. Some specimens grow up to two meters, but this rarely happens, since good growth requires ideal climatic conditions. The stem is hollow, smooth, its surface is covered with stripes - both burning and ordinary. The leaves are long-petiolate, large, green, heart-shaped. The width is 4-8 cm, the length is 7-20 cm. The plant is considered dioecious (this method does not allow self-pollination; male and female flowers are in different individuals).

Nettle protects itself from herbivores with the help of special stinging hairs, which are located both on the stem and on the leaves. A hair is essentially a cell, the shape of which resembles a medical ampoule. Its upper part protrudes far beyond the surface. In case of even a light touch, the sharp end of the “ampoule” breaks, digs into the animal and splashes out all its contents (that is, silicon salts, which cause a burning sensation that is unusual for us). It is worth noting that there is no need to be afraid of nettles, since the burns themselves are harmless. However, there are some species from the family, touching the leaves of which can lead to human death. However, they do not grow here.

Nettle is used as a food product - excellent green cabbage soup and various cold snacks are made from it. In addition, it is very often used as livestock feed. They even say that it makes cows' milk much fattier.

The plant is often used for medicinal purposes. It is known that back in Ancient Greece, nettle was placed on a wound - it was believed that this would promote faster healing. During the wars, Julius Caesar's soldiers whipped themselves with nettle bushes to keep warm. Infusions and decoctions are also made from the leaves and rhizomes, which improve metabolism, help with radiculitis, as well as with some types of bleeding.

However, nettle was also used in everyday life. So, our ancestors sewed bags and sails from it. Today's experts assure that its fiber is no different in properties from cotton or flax. Moreover, Chinese nettle (ramie) is used to produce a fabric that is very similar to silk, while the production cost is much lower.

Nettle is a flowering plant belonging to the nettle family, which includes sixty genera and a huge number of their varieties. Some of them do not burn the skin...

Nettle is a flowering plant belonging to the nettle family, which includes sixty genera and a huge number of their varieties. Some of them do not burn human skin at all, for example, dead nettle (white nettle) or Ramie nettle. But contact with others can cause not only fainting, but also death. These include Laportea stinging, Laportea giant, Laportea mulberry, as well as the nettle tree (ongaonga), which grows in New Zealand.

In our conditions, the most widespread are stinging nettle and stinging nettle, which are not only scorching weeds, but also medicinal plants rich in vitamins and microelements. They have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, hemostatic, sedative and many other beneficial properties. They are used to make medicines and are also eaten (salads, soups, etc.).

Why do nettles sting?

On the leaves and stems of nettle there are barely noticeable, very thin and sharp fibers, which in natural growing conditions are used by the plant to protect itself from various herbivores. Each hair has a stinging (protective) cell, such as in a jellyfish. One milligram of the plant contains up to one hundred of these cells, the composition of which consists of histamine, choline, serotonin, acetylchodine and formic acid, which determine their burning effect. If you translate the name of nettle from Latin (urtica), it means “I burn.”

Each nettle villus is a large cell, similar to an ampoule, the tip of which contains silicon salts. At the slightest touch, the end instantly breaks off and the sharp edge of the villus easily pierces the skin, injecting the burning contents. This process ends in irritation or a nettle burn, which causes a strong burning sensation. You can avoid getting it when handling the plant (for example, while weeding) by carefully grasping its lower part or using protective gloves. The hairs will be tightly pressed to the stem and will not be able to cause harm.

Is a burn harmful?

The burn usually doesn't cause much harm, it just causes blisters to form that cause a burning sensation and then an unpleasant itching. Usually its effects disappear after a few hours. In order to speed up this process, you need:

Ten minutes after receiving a burn, you need to wash the burned area with soap and water.
Soak the burned skin area in cold water or apply ice to it for a while.
Apply a paste of baking soda and cold water to the skin.
You can also use sorrel or impatiens leaves, the alkali of which suppresses the effects of the stinging acids of nettle.
Aloe vera juice or its concentrate helps relieve painful symptoms.

Nettle sting can be dangerous if a person is allergic to the stinging substances of the plant. If you notice signs of an allergic reaction (rash, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea), you should consult a doctor to avoid more severe consequences.

Answers in Russian for a poem about nettles (why do nettles sting)

The poem about why nettles sting, authored by the famous Serbian poet Jovan Jovanovic-Zmaj, is often used in the Russian language school curriculum for grade 3. This poem for children was translated from Serbian by Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak.

Evil nettle stings more painfully if you take it too politely.

If you take it without timidity, the evil nettle stings less.

Troubles and torment are less tormented if you take them firmly in your hands.

The poet does not encourage touching nettles at all, since this is not only unpleasant, but can also be dangerous for children. His poem is an image. Adversity and difficulties act as evil nettles, and if you give in to them and are afraid, it will be even more difficult. This is why, according to the author, nettles can burn.

Parsing pronouns

The proposed poems are well suited for tasks in the Russian language to find and analyze pronouns. A pronoun is a part of speech. It points to words but does not name them. The origin of this word is associated with the phrase “instead of a name.”

Personal pronouns include:

I/we (point to the one who is speaking);
you/you (to whom the address is addressed);
he/she/it/they (who we are talking about).

This part of speech has person, number and, in some cases, gender. For personal pronouns, gender is determined only in the 3rd person singular. Other types of such pronouns do not change by gender.

Analysis of a pronoun as a part of speech covers the following features:

initial form (what is it derived from);
part of speech (pronoun);
type or rank (personal);
face;
number;
gender (if possible to determine).

For the poems written by Jovan Zmaj, the Russian language textbooks give the following task: “Read, find the pronouns. Parse them as part of speech." There are 3 of them in the work (her, you, them). As for parsing, it might look like this:

"Her". It is a personal pronoun derived from the word “she”. Refers to the 3rd person singular feminine. A short entry might look like this: n.f. she, local, personal, 3rd person, unit. h., female genus.
"You". This personal pronoun is already in its initial form. Belongs to the 2nd person plural. Does not change by birth. Brief entry: n.f. you, local, personal, 2nd person, pl. h.
"Their". Also applies to personal pronouns. Derived from the word “they”, 3rd person, plural. The genus is not determined. Briefly: n.f. they, local, personal, 3rd person, pl. h.

Looking for spellings

Another task that is often suggested for the above verses is the search and designation of spellings. First you need to remember what this concept means.

Spelling is the writing of a letter (part of a word) in accordance with the rule. We are talking about cases where letters can be written incorrectly. Usually the spelling is underlined by one line. In some words there may be several such dubious letters.

The text of the proposed poem contains the following letters that are difficult to write (they are indicated in brackets):

It burns (e). By ear, the letter “o” is identified in the word. To avoid a mistake, you need to find out whether the letters e/e alternate. The word “burn” proves the possibility of alternation, which means it is written “e”.
More painful (oh, b). There is an unstressed vowel at the root of the word. To spell it correctly, you need to change the word so that the emphasis falls on the disputed letter. The words “hurt” or “pain” would be suitable. The soft sign is also an orthogram. It gives softness to consonants.
Take/take(e). In these verbs there is an alternation of vowels in the root. The rule for this case is that if the suffix “a” is absent, then it is written “e”, and if it is present, then it is written “i” (takes/chooses).
Courteously (Thu). In the indicated letter combination “b” is not written, since the letter “ch” always has a soft sound and does not require softening.
Take (b).
Not timid (space, o). The correct spelling of the letter "o" is questionable. The test word is timid. In addition, there is also a spelling gap (separate spelling).
Weaker (a). An unstressed vowel at the root can be perceived by ear as both “o” and “a”. The test word is weak.
Less(s).
Torment (e). To check the spelling of an unstressed “e,” the adjective “tortured” is suitable.
Firmly (p). Consonants in the middle of a word can be misspelled if they are located next to each other. To check, you need to change the word so that a vowel appears after the consonant. In this case, the appropriate option is to secure it.
In your hands (space).

Thus, using the poems of the Serbian writer Jovan Zmaj translated by Marshak in tasks in the Russian language, you can practice recognizing and parsing pronouns, repeat spelling patterns and the rules corresponding to them, and the proposed answers will help you better prepare for lessons.

How to treat a nettle burn

Many have encountered such a nuisance as a nettle burn. Young thorny shoots that appear in spring and early summer are especially hot. It is at this time that seasonal work on personal plots begins, and then not a single person is safe from encountering an aggressive plant.

“Evil” nettle stings more painfully. Stinging nettle is one of the types of this plant that can be found in Russia. Another species is stinging nettle. People affected by these plants should not worry, since such nettles do not threaten their life and health. There are about 50 varieties of this plant in the world. And some of them actually contain toxic substances.

Mechanism of action

Let's try to figure out why nettles sting. In this way, the plant’s defense mechanism is manifested, which protects itself from herbivores who want to feast on fresh greens. There are numerous stinging hairs on the leaves. Their function is to pierce the body of an animal or person at the slightest contact. Therefore, we can say that nettle does not just sting or prick, but actually bites.

The cellular sap of sharp hairs contains various caustic substances, which is why nettle has a burning effect on the skin. First of all, it is formic acid. In nature, it is found in pine needles and fruits; it is secreted by jellyfish, bees and ants. Another burning component is histamine, a neurotransmitter that can cause inflammation. In addition, the juice contains choline and serotonin.

The consequences of contact with the plant appear immediately. The pain can be quite strong and sharp. The reaction of young children who do not understand why nettles “bite” can be especially unpredictable. But the unpleasant sensations quickly pass. A few minutes are enough for the pain to go away. However, a nettle burn leaves unpleasant consequences on the skin. The dermis turns red, swells and itches. Subsequently, characteristic blisters appear on its surface. Usually they are not dangerous and pass within 1-2 days without causing any harm to the body.

Benefit or harm?

Despite the fact that a nettle burn does not pose any immediate danger, it can cause unpleasant symptoms in young children and people prone to allergic reactions. Possible negative consequences from nettle stings include: increased heart rate, increased body temperature, general weakness, shortness of breath. Tumors and swelling may appear on the affected skin.

However, herbal medicine experts are confident that nettle can do much more good than harm. The burning plant is widely used in medicine. For example, it is used to treat and prevent such unpleasant diseases as rheumatism and arthritis. The fact is that during a burn, blood rushes sharply to the site of injury. Thus, blood circulation improves in the affected area and adjacent tissues and the work of blood vessels is stimulated. And formic acid contained in nettle effectively relieves pain.

According to traditional medicine experts, nettle therapy improves human immunity. Some people specially use brooms made from the stinging shoots of the plant. They claim that after such a procedure they are not afraid of any diseases.

Nettle has long been known in Rus' as a healthy food product. It can be dried or eaten fresh. Young shoots of the plant contain many vitamins and are added to salads. Fresh or dried nettle, which can no longer burn, is traditionally used in preparing first courses.

Treatment methods

Work to eliminate the consequences of contact with nettles should begin with the removal of sharp fibers. To do this, it is recommended to rinse the affected area with plenty of cold water. Precisely cold, since hot can only aggravate the situation. Ice cubes can be used instead of water.

Another method can also be used. A handful of clay soil should be mixed with water and the resulting composition should be applied to the skin. After some time, it is removed dry along with the hairs. Then, for the purpose of disinfection, the skin must be anointed with a solution of alcohol (boric, salicylic or camphor) or hydrogen peroxide. Use a cotton swab or bandage for this.

If a nettle shoot burned one of your loved ones or you yourself were “bitten” by an aggressive plant, microtrauma can be treated using both medication and folk methods. But, as in many other cases, a comprehensive technique is most effective. First of all, you need to relieve redness and eliminate itching. In this case, ointments Menovazin, Butadione, Prednisolone, and Fenistil gel will help. To mitigate the consequences of an allergic reaction, doctors recommend using antihistamines: Claritin, Suprastin, Zodak, Cetrin.

In field conditions, medicinal plants, which can be found almost everywhere, help well. These are horse sorrel, horsetail, and plantain. The green leaf of the plant should be moistened in water and kneaded well in your hand so that the juice begins to stand out from it. Then the medicine is applied to the sore spot and held for several minutes. The work of such a compress is to relieve inflammation and reduce discomfort.

At home, it is recommended to use ordinary baking soda mixed with water. This paste is applied to the affected area of the skin. After holding it for some time, it is washed off with plenty of water or removed with a cotton swab.

A proven anti-inflammatory agent is the juice or pulp of the aloe vera plant. It will help quickly relieve redness and irritation. Milk and sour cream are folk remedies that are often used for sunburn. But they will also be useful for healing wounds from nettles.

The sooner first aid is provided, the faster the consequences of the burn will be dealt with. This is especially true if rashes appear in a child. If after 24 hours the swelling has not gone away and the affected area continues to itch and itch, you should consult a doctor.

Everyone knows nettles. Along roads, near the walls of houses and near fences, in vacant lots you can come across thickets of this weed, one touch of the leaves of which leaves a blister on the skin and provides several hours of burning and itching. It is no coincidence that in Latin nettle is called “Urtica” - stinging.

What explains these properties of nettle? And is this the only thing that has been known to man for centuries?

Why do nettles sting?

Nettle leaves are covered with fine hairs with sharp ends. Each hair is a large cell, shaped like a medical ampoule. This ampoule is filled with histamine, choline and formic acid. Each of these substances causes an immediate allergic reaction, in the form of burning and itching. When touched, the tip of the hair breaks off, and the contents of the “ampoule” fall on the skin. Scientists believe that the stinging properties of nettles provide protection from herbivores. It must be said that our European nettle is nothing in comparison with some species of this plant growing in southern latitudes. For example, in Australia there is a nettle called “Giant Laportea”. Her burn is so painful it could cause an adult to faint. And in Indonesia and the Philippines there is a “stinging laportea” that can kill, it is so poisonous. Fortunately, our European nettle is not at all dangerous, and even, on the contrary, useful. Since ancient times, our ancestors have used nettle for medicinal and culinary purposes, and they also found other uses for it.

Nettle will replace seven healers

This is what the healers said in the old days and they were not at all mistaken. Nettle contains a rich set of microelements, vitamins, and amino acids. It was and is still used today as a hemostatic, choleretic, and anti-inflammatory agent. Nettle helps accelerate tissue regeneration, increases the tone of the uterus and intestines, and improves cardiovascular and respiratory activity. Nettle helps with anemia, diabetes, respiratory diseases and skin problems. It is no coincidence that many people even now, not to mention the old days, harvest nettles in the spring. Collected in May, even in dry form, it retains healing properties.

It is believed that it helps women with uterine bleeding (although, of course, in such cases you still need to consult a doctor - nettle alone is clearly not enough), and relieves men from impotence. At the same time, nettle can be used in the form of decoctions and infusions, but some healers were convinced that men's problems could be solved... by cutting with nettles.

Nettles on the table

Until now, many housewives cook green cabbage soup, to which they add nettles and sorrel. Since nettle is rich in vitamins, this soup turns out to be very healthy. In times of famine, nettles helped out entire villages, since the stew with nettles and quinoa, although not particularly tasty, gives a person strength to survive hard times. And if you put potatoes in it, it will turn out great! Nettle leaves can be added to salads, and nettle juice can be added to smoothies and herbal teas. Harvesting nettles for the winter is not at all difficult. It can be dried, and the powdered leaves can be sprinkled along with other dry herbs into almost all dishes, except desserts. Nettles can also be frozen by placing them in a plastic bag and placing them in the freezer. Young green leaves should be harvested; they contain the most useful substances.

There was also such an application: fresh nettle leaves were used to put caught fish, and it did not spoil for a long time.

Nettle - for beauty

Everyone knows that nettle decoction strengthens hair roots. In cosmetology, nettle preparations are used to prevent baldness. But even if baldness does not threaten, you should not refuse nettles. Rinsing your hair in nettle broth makes your hair full and shiny. Nettle is also good as a tonic for facial skin. Some cosmetologists advise wiping your face in the morning with cubes of frozen nettle infusion.

Nettle on the farm

The medicinal and culinary properties of nettle are well known today. However, how many people these days know that nettles were used in ancient times to make textiles? Yes, yes, the nettle tow produced, after the necessary processing, a very strong thread, since the nettle stem is rich in fiber. These stems were harvested, dried, crushed, carded - that is, they did everything the same as with other plants used for making fabrics, such as flax or hemp. From the threads obtained in this way, material was woven for sundresses, towels, and shirts. Coarser yarn was used to make ropes and ropes. In Asia, the fabric obtained from nettles is called ramie, and it is increasingly becoming fashionable these days.

What kind of green bush does it bite if you touch it?

Everyone knows this bush: both children and adults, because its burns are very unpleasant and unexpected. The burn site becomes covered with bright spots or even blisters, it hurts and itches. Such a burn does not cause any harm. It happens that people specifically sting nettles to get its acid, because this acid is good for health.

This acid contains many microelements and vitamins.

Why same does the nettle sting?

This is a kind of protective reaction of nettle, as it protects itself from herbivores.

The leaves and stems of this plant are covered with stinging hairs. The hairs are very thin and sharp, and inside each hair there is content resembling a medical ampoule. At the moment of contact with the skin, the tip of this “ampoule” breaks off and the acid it contains is poured into the wound, which was formed by an injection with a sharp hair. It is this acid that causes irritation and burns on the skin. To make irritation or burn go away faster, you can briefly immerse the stung area in cold water or apply a sorrel leaf to it. If you pick nettles by the lower part of the stem, the one closest to the ground, burns can be avoided.

Nettle is a very useful plant

A very tasty and vitamin-rich soup is made from it. Also, nettle is widely used in folk medicine: a decoction of nettles stops bleeding and treats many diseases. Shampoo with nettle extract is very good. Nettle is a valuable food for domestic animals and birds.

If you wrap fish or meat in nettle leaves, they will not spoil longer. In addition, the fibers of this plant can be used to make coarse fabrics for rope and bags.