Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Gitxsan name: sdatxs or sdetxs
Wet'suwet'en name: holhts 'ic

Botanical Description

• perennial 1-3 metres tall with stinging hairs.
• narrow oval or lance shaped leaves, coarsely saw toothed.
• greenish "flowers" drooping in clusters from the stem nodes.
• found in deep rich soil from moist, shaded lowlands to mountain slopes, especially in disturbed areas such as avalanche tracks, slash piles, barnyards and roadsides.

Photo courtesy of Jim Pojar (52kB)

Ethnobotanical Use

Gathered in August, stinging nettle is one of the most important sources of fibre for making fishing nets, snares, traplines, etc. Gitxsan used them medicinally as a counter-irritant or decoctions of the roots and leaves were taken internally for a wide variety of ailments of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, lung, bladder, and even diabetes. It was used by elders to relieve rheumatoid arthritis in the knees by brushing the skin with fresh nettles to cause red welts that reportedly gave relief from the arthritis pain. Note: The Gitxsan used cow parsnip leaves to counteract the sting from the nettles.

Caution: capable of causing dermatitis

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This digital collection was produced under contract to the SchoolNet Digital Collection Program, Industry Canada.
Revised: 08/21/98