Hunting at Roadside IV #2

Stinging nettle (Urtica Dioica) grows well in nitrogen-rich soil, blooms between June and September. It has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that contain irritating chemicals, which are released when contact with the skin. The hairs, or spines, are normally very painful to the touch. When they come into contact with a painful area of the body, however, they can actually decrease the original pain. 

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, It is also used for urinary tract infections, hay fever, or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites. 

Besides, it has been used for food, herbal remedies, dyes and fibres for hundreds of years. During the Second World War, children were encouraged to collect them so that they could be used to produce a dark green dye for camouflage.