Nettle is probably among the most common and popular plants in Bulgaria. It is usually quickly recognized by people: it either stings them as they pass through it, or they notice its heart-shaped leaves, serrated at the end. Nettle leaves can reach 17cm in length and 8cm in width. The stem is unbranched, also covered with stinging hairs and can reach 2m in height. In Bulgaria nettle occurs primarily as a wild plant, although, in fact, this crop is extremely unpretentious to soil conditions and, as a perennial, is very easy to grow. Moreover, each of its parts (leaves, stem, seed, roots) comprises substances beneficial to the human organism, and find application not only in cosmetics, but in pharmaceutics and food industry, as well. Among those wholesome substances are various vitamins (C, K, C2) and mineral salts (calcium, manganese, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and copper), formic acid and gallic acid, starch, chlorophyll nonhistamine, carotene, and others. Connoisseurs of wholesome nutrition worship nettle, because of its varied nutritional composition, rich in proteins, sugars, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
On the other hand the benefits of nettle to human health are numerous. Due to its astringent, diuretic, emollient, and antianaemic action, the herb has a beneficial effect on anemia, vitamin deficiency, digestive disorders, diarrhea, impaired metabolism, headaches, nosebleeds, heavy menstruation, hemorrhoids, kidney disease, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, etc.
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