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 give up 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.

In ancient times, nettles were also used to paint clothes and canvases. It gives a nice sandy color.

Nettles in pedagogy

And finally, one more, not the most pleasant use of nettle. She was punished. Because of its pungency, whipping with nettles was considered an even more serious punishment than, for example, punishment with rods. Chekhov, in his humorous story “Life is Beautiful,” wrote: “If you are whipped with a birch tree, then kick your legs and exclaim: “How happy I am that they don’t whip me with nettles!” In addition, strict parents believed that nettle was not only painful, but also beneficial. And in some ways they were right.

WHY DO NETTLE BURNS? Nettle always grows near houses, under fences, along forest paths. Therefore, we all know how unpleasant her burns are: it hurts, then a small blister appears and begins to itch. Why does this unpleasant feeling occur? The leaves and stems of nettle are covered with many stinging hairs. They contain stinging cells containing a caustic liquid. When we touch a leaf, a hair pierces the skin, the upper part of the hair breaks off, and the contents of the stinging cell enter the wound. Nettle is a very unpleasant plant and has many relatives. The nettle family includes about 60 genera and more than a thousand plant species. They grow mainly in the tropics. In Southeast Asia, Laportea stinging is notorious. Her burns are so severe that they could cause the death of a child. The leaves of Laportea gigantea, a tree from the forests of North-Eastern Australia, sting very painfully. Her burns sometimes cause people to faint and then be sick for several months. The same burns are caused by the Australian Laportea mulberry. Our common stinging nettle is not only a stinging weed, it is also a medicinal plant. Its leaves and young shoots are edible, they are rich in vitamins A, C, K. This is an excellent remedy against vitamin deficiency. Nettle stops bleeding. Yellow dye is made from nettle roots, and green dye is made from leaves. This plant is an excellent bactericidal agent that prevents rotting. Fish and meat are better preserved if they are wrapped in nettle leaves. Here's another tip: try washing the dishes with nettles after dinner - and they will sparkle.

Well, first of all, not all nettles sting. There is one that can easily make a woman and even a hefty man faint. It grows in Australia and is called Laportea. Giant or mulberry. And there is also a nettle that can kill. Let's say, an unintelligent Indonesian or Filipino child will go into the bushes for a big cause. He takes off his trousers, sits down - and hello. He may never get up again. Because if your bare butt comes into contact with a nettle called Laportea stinging, which grows exactly in Southeast Asia, you can get such a significant burn that the body cannot withstand it and the heart stops.

I remember that I was also somehow impatient. It was in kindergarten. In summer. We were then taken to summer children's camps in the forest area. We walked and walked, picking strawberries, stringing them on a blade of grass, so that we could put them into our mouths all at once, and suddenly - oops - we have to! He ran deeper into the forest, behind the thick bushes. He took off his pants. Sat down. And he immediately jumped up, stung. Everything happened while standing...

So what kind of poisonous plant is this – nettle?

It turns out that this is a flowering plant. Can you imagine? True, the family is nettles. More than 60 genera (we have about 45), over 100 thousand species.

Why does it burn?

Because the leaves and stems of this “flower” are covered with villi, so thin and sharp that they easily pierce human skin. Having pierced it, the lint breaks off, and caustic acid flows into the wound from the broken sting. It causes irritation and sometimes burns. It is no coincidence that the name nettle comes from the Latin Urtica, that is, “I burn.” But, for example, young nettle may not burn. Because she’s young. You can also protect yourself from the stinging effect of nettles by picking it by the lower part of the stem. So, if without gloves, women who are courageous in spirit and body weed out nettles from their gardens.

The most common types of nettles in our country are stinging nettle and stinging nettle. Nettle grows like a weed near houses, under fences, in neglected fields and vegetable gardens, in the forest.

Actually, the burn does not cause much harm. Well, the blister will stay there for half an hour or an hour, it will scratch and go away. It will go away even faster if you immerse the stung area in cold water. Or attach a sorrel leaf to it. The alkali it contains neutralizes the effect of nettle acid. Sometimes people themselves sting nettles in order to get its acid into the body. Because this acid is useful. It contains a lot of microelements that have a beneficial effect on the composition of your blood, and there are more than enough vitamins. And cabbage soup with nettles is simply delicious. If, of course, you add cabbage, potatoes and a can of stew. During the war, for example, they saved themselves with soups made from nettle and sorrel. Or decoctions. This is when there were no potatoes or cabbage. Not to mention the stew.

Actually, something like nettle soup is cooked in many countries. But this soup is intended to feed pigs and poultry, not humans.

They also say that nettles are used to make paint—yellow and green—and also somehow make fabrics, ropes and threads. But this no longer relates to the issue of the stinging properties of nettles...

When we accidentally burned ourselves with nettles as children, adults often calmed us down, telling us that there was nothing wrong with it and that it was very useful. Oddly enough, nettle burns can actually benefit the body, so don't worry too much about unsightly redness on the skin. This phenomenon is temporary, and the body will definitely thank you. What benefits do nettle burns bring and are they really useful?

Is there any benefit?

At the moment when a person is burned by nettles, blood instantly rushes to the upper layers of the dermis, enhancing the work of numerous capillaries and actively stimulating blood circulation. There are even special treatment methods using nettle burns, aimed at quickly getting rid of ailments such as varicose veins, atherosclerosis, arthritis and rheumatism. The essence of these techniques is the targeted burning of the skin with nettles, which in turn greatly helps to improve blood flow to a particular area of ​​the body.

In addition, at the moment of nettle burns, formic acid penetrates into the human body, which has long been famous for its excellent analgesic effect.

Does it sting or bite?

Most of us mistakenly believe that nettles simply sting. In fact, she “bites.” In general, its bites are somewhat reminiscent of mosquito bites - both in the mechanism of action and in the final results (the appearance of itchy bumps on the skin).

The entire “body” of the nettle is densely dotted with incredibly thin hairs, which is why the nettle leaves with stems give the impression of being soft and velvety. In reality, these hairs are by no means as harmless as they might seem at first glance: they contain burn-causing substances such as formic acid, as well as histamine and choline. Just like mosquito proboscis, these hairs almost imperceptibly pierce human skin, and the puncture sites immediately begin to fill with the above-mentioned substances.

Harm from nettle burns

Fortunately, there are currently no varieties of nettle capable of causing various life-threatening reactions in our latitudes. True, in some cases (albeit very rarely), quite strong allergic reactions to the substances contained in nettle can still occur. In other cases, all the harm from nettle burns comes down solely to uncomfortable and very painful sensations in the area of ​​the burned areas, as well as to the appearance of minor swelling and redness.

Is it possible to get rid of discomfort after a burn?

A nettle burn is not a reason to panic. In order to avoid allergic manifestations, it doesn’t hurt to take an antihistamine just in case: diazolin, loratadine, suprastin or some other.

Is it possible to somehow get rid of redness and discomfort? Easily! To do this, simply hold the burned area under a stream of ice water or simply lower the burned limb directly into ice water. Another good option is to dilute baking soda to a paste and apply a thick layer of it to the burned area. Vodka or alcohol lotions will also be excellent helpers, so you can also choose among the available options for solving the problem.

What else is nettle useful for?

In addition to the benefits from nettle burns, no less benefit can be obtained by consuming this plant as food, because it is very rich in valuable minerals and vitamins essential for the body. As part of various dishes, nettle perfectly helps strengthen the immune system, gives strength, tones, and also helps to become more beautiful, noticeably healthier and even stronger. Nettle cabbage soup and soups are especially good, as well as salads with the addition of young nettle leaves.

Stinging nettle has also found its use in cosmetology - its decoction is often washed to quickly get rid of boils, acne and inflammation. And hair masks prepared on its basis perfectly strengthen hair, make it shinier and help it grow faster.

Another area of ​​use of nettle is traditional medicine - this useful plant is highly valued not only by ordinary people, but also by homeopaths and even doctors! So don’t be afraid of nettles – they are not harmful at all!

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 at all encourage touching nettles, 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:

1. "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.
2. "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.
3. "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):

1. 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”.
2. 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.
3. 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).
4. Courteous (Thu). In the indicated letter combination “b” is not written, since the letter “ch” always has a soft sound and does not require softening.
5. Take it (b).
6. 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).
7. Weaker (a). An unstressed vowel at the root can be perceived by ear as both “o” and “a”. The test word is weak.
8. Less(s).
9. Torment (e). To check the spelling of an unstressed “e,” the adjective “tortured” is suitable.
10. 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.
11. 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 prickly growth that appears in spring and early summer especially burns. 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.