top of page

Harmonious Podcast: Episode 19 - Stinging Nettle & Moonstone

“Why are you looking around for help? Do you believe that help will come from outside? What is to come is created in you and from you. Hence look into yourself. Do not compare, do not measure. No other way is like yours. All other ways deceive and tempt you. You must fulfil the way that is in you.”

~Carl Jung



Hello beloved ones! This is Meline, and I invite you to listen to another episode of Harmonious, where we explore the synergy of Crystals and Herbs. I wish to thank you for your understanding and patience as I took a break last week. I am happy to be back and so excited to explore the crystal and the herb of this week with you. Today we are going to learn about the herb stinging Nettle, and the crystal Moonstone.

But before we move on, I need to mention that everything you learn in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please do not start or discontinue any treatment or medication based on what you learn in this podcast. It is essential that you consult a medical doctor before initiating or discontinuing or changing any medications or treatments for your physical, emotional, or mental health. And please make sure that you are not allergic to any of the herbs that you wish to experiment with.


Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial flowering plant that is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America. Stinging nettle has a long history of both medicinal and culinary uses.

Stinging nettle typically grows to a height of 3 to 7 feet (1 to 2 meters). Its leaves are opposite, serrated, and heart-shaped with fine, hair-like structures that release irritant chemicals when touched, causing a stinging sensation on the skin. The plant also produces small greenish flowers in dense clusters, usually appearing from late spring to early summer.

So, how does the stinging nettle sting?

The stinging sensation caused by stinging nettle is due to the presence of hollow, needle-like hairs on the leaves and stems. These hairs contain chemicals like histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and formic acid. When the hairs come into contact with the skin, they break off and inject these chemicals, causing a mild to moderate irritation that results in itching, redness, and a burning sensation. This reaction is usually short-lived and can be treated with simple remedies like washing the affected area with water or applying soothing creams. Interestingly enough, if the stinging nettle leaves are applied to a body part which is already in pain, after the application, the original pain dissipates; it is explained that nettle does this by lowering the levels of inflammation in the body, thus relieving the pain.

It is much easier to harvest the young nettle plants which grow in spring because the hollow spikes have not fully formed on them yet and there is significantly less stinging. It is important to note that Urtica dioica is a wonderfully nutritious and medicinal plant and its stinging mechanism protects it from going extinct. If it didn’t have the slight stinging quality, humans and other animals would probably consume all of it!


Stinging nettle has been used for centuries for its various health benefits and culinary uses. It's rich in nutrients like vitamins (such as A and C), minerals (including iron, calcium, and magnesium), and protein. Stinging nettle has been used as a potent herbal medicine to treat conditions like arthritis, allergies, urinary tract problems, and anemia.


Culinary uses of stinging nettle involve cooking or processing the plant, which removes its stinging hairs and neutralizes the irritant chemicals. The young leaves can be harvested and used as a vegetable in soups, stews, and teas. They have a flavor similar to spinach but with a slightly more robust and earthy taste.

More health Benefits of stinging nettle include Anti-inflammatory, Allergy Relief, Prostate Health, and a high Antioxidant Content.

From a spiritual and energetic perspective, stinging nettle is masculine, it’s associated with the planet Mars, it’s element is fire. Nettle teaches us the importance of having boundaries. Setting and maintaining boundaries shows that we respect ourselves and our needs. When we establish and uphold our boundaries, we communicate to others that we have a strong sense of self-worth, which in turn boosts our self-esteem. Without proper boundaries, we are at risk of burnout, as constantly accommodating others' demands and neglecting our own needs can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion. Boundaries ensure that we take time for self-care and recharge.


Now let’s talk about Moonstone!

Moonstone belongs to the feldspar mineral family. It is made of sodium potassium aluminum silicate and has a pearly opalescent look. Moonstone is translucent and comes in colors of white and grey but also orange, green, blue, pink, brown and rainbow. You may also find variation of Moonstone with patches of black tourmaline scattered in it.

The magical glow of the moonstone is called the adularescent effect, an optical phenomenon caused by its unique inner composition that refracts and scatters light.

I have personally noticed that wearing jewelry with Moonstone, or carrying a piece of Moonstone during Full Moons and New Moons helps me to feel less fatigued. It brings calmness to the body and to the mind.

The Moon has always been a symbol of the Goddess spirituality. Similarly, Moonstone, represents the divine feminine in Feng shui and many other spiritual traditions. It is often used for balancing and healing female hormones, and bringing in peace and calm to whoever holds this gorgeous stone.

Moonstone energy is yin, reflecting, receptive, and it invites us to look inward and find what’s hidden deep in our subconscious. Moonstone works beautifully with our third eye chakra and our Crown chakra, helping us see through the illusions of the material world and to connect with the universal source of oneness.

As the moon cycles connect us to nature, the spiritual meaning of moonstone also reminds us that life also ebbs and flows.


Moonstone cultivates compassion and empathy.

It helps us to connect with our intuition to help us see situations more clearly.

Moonstone activates our creative and intuitive power of feminine energy, which helps us get in tune with our true emotions.

It can help balance and cool down our emotions.

The tranquil energy of the moonstone invites creativity, restoration, and motherly protection.

The glow of the moonstone is thought to reflect our own aura to help us gain important information and feedback about our health.


Now, here are some examples of different practices that allow us to Integrate the healing benefits of stinging nettle and moonstone:

· Create a journal for writing down notes and information about herbs and crystals. I am pairing these herbs and crystals for my podcast based on my intuition. I find similarities between the properties of certain herbs and crystals, and this is my own opinion. You may have your own intuition about pairing a crystal with an herb which is different than mine and that is wonderful! Start writing down these herb and crystal pairs and also write about why were you called to pair these specific allies at the first place, next, what are the qualities or properties that make you pair these two together? For example, both stinging nettle and Moonstone feel very nurturing and motherlike to me. I feel the divine feminine energy emanating from them both. Also consider emailing me your crystal and herb pairs and I will gladly incorporate them into the Harmonious podcast!

· Craft a small pouch containing both a moonstone and dried nettle leaves. Carry this pouch with you to benefit from the combined energies throughout the day. You can keep it in your pocket, purse, or even place it under your pillow at night.

· Create affirmations that combine the attributes of nettle and moonstone. For example, "I am grounded and nourished by the wisdom of the earth, and I am open to the intuitive guidance of my emotions. I have healthy boundaries and I respect my values. I am worthy of loving and being loved."

· If you are like me and if you experience fatigue during Full Moons and New Moons, experiment with wearing Moonstone jewelry and drink Nettle tea on those Moon phases and see if you feel better.


I hope you enjoyed today’s episode. Please share this podcast with your friends and family. Feel free to email me at mindfulmanifest2@gmail.com should you have any questions or comments or to just say hi.

My name is Meline and this was the Harmonious, where we explore the synergy of crystals and herbs.

Until next time, stay happy and healthy.



Comments


bottom of page