Family: Urticacea
Height: 90-180cm
When dried, nettles loose their sting. Nettle hay is a particularly valuable rabbit & cavy food, especially for convalescent stock. It must however be carefully dried and free from mould. As well as being high in protein and iron, nettles are said to be useful in cases of poor elimination such as eczema, rheumatism and arthritis.
Nettles have an extremely high calcium level and a good Ca:P ratio Nettles are a good source of silica which can help keep the rabbit and guinea pig’s fur and bones in good condition.
Constituents: Indoles including histamine and seratonin; formic acid; acetylcholine; chlorophyll; glucoquinine; iron, silica; potassium; vitamins A (15,700 IU per 100gm dried herb) & C (83 mg/100gm dried herb).
Actions: Astringent, diuretic, and tonic.
