Wild Origins

👏🏼 Let the teachings finally commence. 👏🏼

Curious about herbalism but not sure where to start?
Join the RVA Herbalist Alliance for a panel on bringing herbs into everyday life.

We’ll cover foundational knowledge, practical uses, and how to work with plants growing right around you.

🕑 Sun., May 3 | 12–2 PM
💸 Free to attend
🎟 Reserve your spot: tinyurl.com/G5HERBS

Happy (belated) Herbalist Day

I love this day 💚 Every year I get the chance to celebrate another year of study and devotion to the plants that sustain our lives.
Last year I celebrated a full year of operating a herbal wellness business ✨
THIS year I am adding to that celebration with this group of amazing humans- the five of us represent and we spent Herbalist Day, in community, getting ready to spend this weekend debuting the alliance at the inaugural Richmond Renaissance Faire.
So many things to have gratitude for, not the least of which are in this photo 💗💗

I said I would share the full nettle story on Friday, and I didn’t. Sorry, I spent the day, Herbalist’s Day no less, with an incredible group of herbalists, setting up our Herbalist Guild tent for this weekend’s Renaissance Faire. And with the sun glaring and one bar of reception, my phone was not a place I spent my time.
So here’s the link to the e-book as well as a photo of my personal story:

https://theherbalacademy.com/herbal-wisdom-ebook/

I hated this plant.
It became my herbalist origin story.

I recently shared that story for a publication, and the response was unexpected.

You’ll find this photo and the full story on Friday.

Most people avoid this plant, and to be fair, I used to, too.
But now it’s dinner (aaand sometimes it’s breakfast, too).

Stinging nettles lose their sting the moment they’re cooked. What’s left is one of the most nourishing greens you can eat.

Yesterday looked like:
mini quiches &
sautéed with scallops over pasta

Nothing fancy. Just food that happens to grow outside, in the wild.

🌿 Remember: Proper ID always matters!!

We’ve been taught to ignore plants like this.
Let’s unlearn that.

Curious what else is growing outside that we can eat?

We talk about nettles as food. As tea. As something deeply nourishing. And for me, it’s part of my origin story.

But why? What’s actually happening inside this plant that makes it so supportive?

Let’s talk science. Plant science. Photochemistry. Ohhhh I love it.

Mineral Density:
Nettles are exceptionally rich in bioavailable minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and silica.
🔹 These compounds support everything from oxygen transport to connective tissue strength, making nettles one of the most grounding, rebuilding plants we have.

Flavonoids (Quercetin, Rutin):
These compounds help regulate the body’s inflammatory response and stabilize histamine release.
🔹 This is one reason nettles are often turned to for seasonal discomfort and immune support.

Chlorophyll:
That deep green color is stunning, and it reflects nettles’ high chlorophyll content.
🔹 Chlorophyll supports detoxification pathways and overall cellular health.

Formic Acid & Histamine (The Stinging part):
Fresh nettles contain compounds that create that unmistakable sting.
🔹 However, once cooked or dried, these compounds are neutralized, transforming the plant from irritant to nourishment.

The Real Magic: Synergy
It’s never just one compound. Nettles work because of the combination: minerals, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and more (!) working together in a way no isolated supplement can replicate.

So, here’s a way we can look at something that maybe we thought of as a pesky w**d, and see it as something that nourishes 💚