YELLOW DEAD NETTLE (Lamium
gaieobdolon)
Common names: Yellow
Archangel, Dummy Nettle, Weazel Snout.
This plant grows in damp woods, in shady hedgerows, in waste places,
quarries and wherever the Stinging Nettle grows. From the branched root stock
the erect stems grow to a height of 50 cm. The pair of oval shaped, crenated
leaves is placed exactly at right angles to the one above and below. The yellow
flowers are arranged in whorls or rings in the axle of the leaves. The flowers
and leaves are gathered. Yellow Dead Nettle as well as White Dead Nettle (Lamium
album) are valuable medicinal herbs.The latter flowers from May almost to
December and is found as a common weed along paths, in waste places and on
railway embankments. The leaves and especially the flowers are gathered. A tea
is beneficial in abdominal and menstrual complaints, if 2 cups are sipped during
the day. It cleanses the blood and is an effective remedy for sleeplessness and
for diverse female troubles. People suffering from continual abdominal
complaints and young girls should value this tea. The leaves and flowers of the
Yellow Dead Nettle are used for similar complaints, but especially for scanty or
burning urine, bladder trouble, serious kidney disorders and fluid retention in
the heart. The flowers are used for digestive troubles, scrofula and skin rashes
and 1 cup of this tea is drunk during the morning. For ulcers and varicose veins
compresses made from the infusion are beneficial. - Yellow Dead Nettle can be
recommended for bladder malfunction with older people, as well as for chill in
the bladder and nephritis. A sitz bath, with the decoction added, is very
soothing. For cirrhosis of the kidneys and when renal dialysis has to be
performed, the Yellow Dead Nettle, Bed- straw and Golden Rod mixed in equal
proportions, give good results.
DIRECTIONS
Infusion: 1
heaped teaspoon per 1/4 litre of boiling
water, infused for a short time.
Compress: 3
heaped teaspoons per 1/2 litre of boiling water, infused for a short time. A cloth is
soaked in the infusion and applied warmly.
Sitz bath: See
General Information "sitz bath" (the whole plant is used).
Tea
mixture: Yellow Dead Nettle, Bedstraw and Golden Rod in
equal proportions are mixed. One heaped teaspoon per 1/4 litre of boiling water.