I didn’t grow up knowing my cycle mirrored those of the earth so closely. Like many of us, my early reproductive education was fairly limited and cloaked in both secrecy and shame.

It would take more than a decade of study and practice before I began to appreciate how little I knew about how my body worked. Even then, it would be some years before I understood that having a cycle meant going around, like the seasons. 

The menstrual cycle mirrors all other cycles in nature. 

Just like the tide that rises and falls, the seasons that bloom and decay, the moon that waxes and wanes, our cycles embody the life-death-life cycles of nature.

And so…

The menstrual cycle can be broken into four seasons, that reflect our shifting fertility:
Winter - the menstrual phase, Spring - the pre-ovulatory phase, Summer - the ovulatory phase and Fall - the post-ovulatory phase.

Understanding the energetic seasons of the menstrual cycle gives us a language with which we can understand and explore our own fertility and physiology. Equipped with words, we begin to appreciate the menstrual cycle as a powerful teacher. One that constantly offers us insights into our health and well-being, and gives us the opportunity to develop a deep relationship with ourselves.

Winter // Menstruation // Mugwort 

A new cycle begins on the first day of heavy menstrual bleeding and we call it Day One. 

It is time for us to turn inward, to rest, to be still and silent as snowfall. It’s here in the dark that we return home to ourselves, shaking off the world outside, we land deeply in our bodies. 

Here in the winter-time we are most connected to our needs, our path and intuitive self. 
Without the distraction of the light, everything is clear. 

Menstruation brings us deep clarity, if only we can sit still long enough to listen.

Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris, helps us to dream our visions, reconnect with our subconscious and move through the underworld, making this plant a wonderful ally to call upon during menstruation. Many of you will be familiar with Mugwort's ability to ease cramping and bring on light or scanty flow. Mugwort also connects us with our dreams and deeper visioning and feels oh so aligned, to these inner-winter nights. 

Note: Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris is an emmenagogue - avoid in pregnancy.

Spring // Pre-ovulation // Nettle

A few days have passed and bleeding begins to slow. There is a distinct shift in our energy. We no longer feel cocooned to the inner world, but refreshed, renewed and restored. Awake once more from winter's restful slumber. 

The energy of spring, as all herbalists know, is exciting, inspiring and motivating. If left without direction, or grounding however, spring has the potential to become erratic, and before we know it we’ve planted a garden bigger than we can possibly tend.

It’s in our inner-spring, as estrogen rises, that we are fresh with new ideas, excitement and the motivation to get out there. We must remember, though, to thin the rows, focus our energy, lest our garden becomes overcrowded.

Nettles, Urtica dioca, pop up everywhere, and are here to tonify the blood and support the kidneys. A great mover of water, Nettles move fluid through the body, like the streams now running in the woods, that gently cleanse winter's stagnation.

Summer // Ovulation // Rose

Around the middle of our cycle, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) stimulate ovulation and an ‘egg’ or ovum is released from the ovary.  We feel energised, empowered and capable. If menstruation pulls us inward, then ovulation sends us spiraling, radiant, into the outer world.

Ovulation is the power to create. 

This is the fertile phase of our cycle and we now hold the capacity to create that which we wish to see manifest in our lives. 

The beauty of the cycle is here, in it’s balance - during menstruation we turn inward, we find deep communion with self and truth. During ovulation we have the energy to bring that truth into the light. 

While summer is a joyful season, it is also incredibly busy. 

During the long hot days we can feel both uncentered and distracted, forgetting the important work we wished to complete. Who better to keep us aligned with our heart's truth than Rose?

​Fall // Post-ovulation // Dandelion

With the headiness of summer behind us, and the leaves shifting colors in the forest, it’s time to dig up roots and gather the last of the harvest.

Fall is both a joyful season of abundance, of harvest, and of celebration as it is a time of preparation, and looking ahead. If we did not achieve what we set out to do, there is a little time left before the winter comes to finish up the projects we have started. 

This season is about re-drawing our boundaries, saying "no" to what's un-important and focusing our energy on what we must. Towards the end of Fall, it’s time to prepare, rearrange our commitments and plan our slow days so that we can fully step into rest and silence, once winter arrives.

Dandelion roots, Taraxacum officinale, support the liver and assist estrogen clearance by encouraging bowel movements. Dandelion helps us to let go of the things that are not really important. Some of us find that high levels of progesterone in the post-ovulatory phase can be constipating, and so Dandelion is a beautifully poised ally for our inner-fall. 

As the days grow darker, and the air gets colder, soon we welcome back the clarity of our winter nights and our cycle begins once more.

Gabrielle Jansen BNat is an Australian Herbalist and Fertility Educator out of Rockland, Maine. Her practice combines her clinical foundation with a deep desire to empower others to understand their bodies. She offers classes, consultations and informative blog posts on herbalism, fertility education and cyclical wisdom at www.witchmountainherbal.com and on instagram @witchmountainherbal

by Katja Swift

​I'll just go ahead and admit it: I'm not wild about the flavor of Nettles. I know that many herbalists think Nettles are just totally delicious, but I find the flavor... dull.

However it's such an important and nourishing plant that I don't let my feelings about its flavor stand in the way of drinking Nettle infusions regularly - I just blend it up with other herbs I do love, and now I've got a tea that tastes good and is good for me!

​Whether you love Nettle's green grassy flavor or not, give these blends a try:

Nettle and Tulsi (Holy Basil) 
Nettle is one of my very favorite plants for working with adrenal fatigue and general burnout. Nettle's deep nourishing support for the kidneys feeds the adrenal glands too, and provides your body with the nutrients it needs to rebuild after a long period of stress. When you blend in the Tulsi, you get a very targeted and powerful effect! Tulsi is a gentle adaptogen, building up the endocrine system and restoring what has been used up over the course of stress, sleep debt, or illness. Plus, Tulsi helps to boost mood and improves the way your brain can process emotions and experiences. 

Nettle and Ginger 
Ginger is one of my favorite flavors, and since Nettle tends just a little bit on the cooling side, the warmth from the Ginger is a real benefit for folks like me who run a little cold. Plus, adding Ginger really builds on Nettle's anti-inflammatory actions. Whether you're battling seasonal allergies or any other chronic inflammatory condition, these two anti-inflammatory powerhouses can make a big difference.

Nettle and Linden
For some people, the astringency of Nettle is a little too much for every day drinking. To counteract that drying effect, I love to add Linden! Linden is a moistening nervous system supporter, and this is another blend that can keep you going through stressful times. If you are feeling "frazzled" and "fried", a month with this blend will help you recuperate.

Nettle and Rosehips
This blend is a super-food powerhouse! Vitamins, minerals, bioflavinoids, anti-oxidants - everything your body needs to stay strong and healthy day in and day out. Plus, it's got a delicious tangy flavor that even your kids will like!
​

And if all of these things sound fantastic and just exactly like what you need - blend it all together! Whether you work in these pairs, or combine several of the pairs together, you'll have a delicious way to work with Nettles every day!

by Jade Alicandro Mace

The first Nettles (Urtica dioica) harvest is easily one of my most eagerly anticipated harvests of spring. To me, spring hasn’t truly sprung until the Nettles are here. When it comes to harvesting Nettles, one of the first things folks always ask is, “But don’t they sting?” They do.

​The next question is, “Do you wear gloves?” My answer? Nope. You’d be hard-pressed to find an herbalist who doesn’t choose to harvest Nettles bare-handed at least once a season on purpose. Why? Because the sting, just like almost every other part of the plant, is medicinal! ​

Jade brings a love of the bioregionally abundant herbs to her work as a community and clinical herbalist. When she’s not teaching bioregional herbalism, you can find her roaming the hedges with her harvest basket or at home in the kitchen brewing-up some potent food as medicine. She’s a mother to her 10 and 6 year-old daughters, partner, tender of chickens and cats and new puppy, blogger and writer, online educator, and half-gardener to her mostly wild gardens. She co-founded the Greenfield Community Herbal Clinic, dedicated to affordable herbal care and also maintains a long-distance clinical practice. She lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts in unceded Nipmuk territory. Learn more about her work at www.milkandhoneyherbs.com or follow her on facebook or instagram (@milkandhoneyherbs).

What is Nettle?

The arrival of spring calls the lovely rebirth of the Nettle plant. This abundant (and edible!) herb
is a member of the Urticaceae plant family. Nettle grows widely in nitrogen rich soils -- found in
both the United States and dispersed throughout Europe. Although painful to the touch, when
used internally, nettle is a gentle healer for various ailments.

What are the benefits of Nettle?

Nettle has a plethora of vitamins and minerals housed within its green leaves. It’s commonly
known to herbalists as a revitalizing plant -- used to “revive” the entire body and increase organ
functionality. In particular, nettle works to improve daily kidney, liver, and stomach functions.

For many, nettle has been used as an essential herb for stress, fatigue, and burnout. Herbalists
recommend nettle for prolonged stress since the plant works profoundly on the adrenal system.
Nettle is also the perfect herb for treating seasonal allergy symptoms - such as runny nose,
itching, and allergy-related headaches due to its natural anti-histamine property.

Nettle is known as a “super herb” regarding its ability to help women at every stage of life.
Specifically, it helps women combat fatigue caused by low iron. For expecting mothers, nettles
provide high amounts of Vitamin K to prevent blood clots from pregnancy. Once the child is
born, taking nettle supplements increases the supply of a mother’s breast milk. The plant
provides deep nutrition for both the newborn baby and the mother’s health.

How do you take Nettle?

The way nettle is taken depends on personal preference. The most common ways are teas,
tinctures, and herbal capsules. Many herbalists will also incorporate nettle into their daily meals
(via soups, sauces, or infused vinegars) for the best assimilation of the plant’s vitamin and
mineral content. As a food-grade plant, nettle is gentle enough for people of all ages and
constitutions to use in moderation.

Note: Fresh nettle leaves will sting upon contact. This property is deactivated with drying or
cooking, so have no fear!

If you are feeling adventurous and want to make a healthy green smoothie with foraged nettle,
try this recipe during the upcoming spring months:  
​

• Half a cup of fresh nettle leaves (you’ll need to wear gloves to harvest them!)
• Half of an organic cucumber
• One large banana
• Half cup of organic sliced pineapple
• Two cups of organic coconut water (or regular water)
• Half an avocado
  
  

After carefully collecting your fresh nettle leaves, you’ll need to blanch them quickly in hot water
to deactivate the sting in their leaf hairs. Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop the clean leaves
in, allowing them to cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir frequently. Strain out the leaves and add them,
along with the rest of the ingredients, to the blender. Puree and drink!

Marissa has been drawn to the world of aromatics and plants since she was a child. Certified in aromatherapy, Reiki, and meditation, she actively changes lives using these healing practices. Additionally, she is a holistic life coach, and works towards helping others heal while simultaneously getting in touch with their spiritual side. As Herbstalk's Marketing Manager, Marissa draws upon years of experience to oversee vendor relations, event management, and marketing campaigns. As a longtime attendee and member of the Herbstalk community, she is beyond thrilled to be a part of the team! 

There are many literary allusions to nettle. Shakespeare's Hotspur urges that "out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety" (Henry IV, part 1, Act II Scene 3). The figure of speech "to grasp the nettle" probably originated from Aesop's fable "The Boy and the Nettle". In Seán O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, one of the characters quotes Aesop "Gently touch a nettle and it'll sting you for your pains/Grasp it as a lad of mettle and soft as silk remains". The metaphor may refer to the fact that if a nettle plant is grasped firmly rather than brushed against, it does not sting so readily, because the hairs are crushed down flat.

In German, to sit in nettles means to get into trouble (as 8s can do without meaning to because they are outspoken and impulse action oriented). In French there’s an idiom that means “don’t push grandma into the nettles,” which means be careful not to abuse a situation.

Nettles when cooked tastes like spinach and is rich in Vitamin A, C, potassium, manganese and calcium. It has plenty of amino acids and is rich in antioxidants. Soaking or cooking removes the stinging hairs. At peak time, the leaves can be 25% protein which is high for a leafy vegetable. Nettle recipes often are used in polenta, pesto and soups. There’s even a World Nettle Eating Championship (8s tend to love eating and competition)!

Nettles has been used to treat just about everything. As a tea, tincture, extract or capsule, it can help to detoxify the body through its diuretic action. It also can promote healthy blood circulation and cardiovascular health.  Nettle is also well known for helping to alleviate allergic reactions due to environmental irritants. 

So gather your nettle (with gloves) and go into action. Don’t be shy. Nettles can be great for 8s to remember their vulnerability and that stinging can hurt themselves or others. This is also a great plant for non-8s to remember to be strong and direct.

by Jenny Hauf

I am lucky enough to have the pleasure of collaborating with my dear friend Steph Zabel, the founder of Herbstalk. This past weekend we got together to teach a class called “Waking Up to Spring with Herbs,” in which we discussed how to use, grow, and forage the herbs that support and nurture us as we transition from the black and white months of winter into the dawning deliciousness of spring. ​

Because we always like to have fresh herbs to pass around to our students I headed out to hunt for one of my favorite plant allies, stinging nettle, which we would be discussing in our class. In a trusty nook of Jamaica Plain I walking on a raised path amongst cattails in the lightly flurrying morning, traveling with my eyes to the earth. The shed raiment of autumn was everywhere, crisp and ashy, ready for green growth to cover it and spring rains to hasten its return to mud. 

As I searched for the tiny first leaves of Urtica dioica—deep green, laced with acid, and tinged purple-red—I discovered other things. There were the crocuses, closed from the cold, but still stalwart and sweet. Long pearls of snowdrop buds dangled in delicate drifts. I also found a single squill blossom, ragged but deeply blue and alive.  

Bramble leapt over and sidled the path, catching on my skirt and grabbing at my bare knees. Beyond the bramble rose cattails, some still fuzzy with the seed heads they had grown months before, swaying around me. Beyond the marsh were witch hazels, their spidery flowers egg yolk yellow, and a tremendous grandmother of a silver maple with branches tipped in a burgundy haze. 
​
Snowflakes occasionally laced through the branches, stalks, and stems as I continued searching, and eventually I stumbled upon my prize: a tiny patch of nettles in miniature, their infant leaves unfanning and little stingers shimmering. Gratefully I snipped a few and laid them in a paper bag. Overhead and throughout the marsh the red-winged blackbirds sang, and I headed home with a handful of brand new life in my arms.