Dead Nettle Tincture

The Underrated Powerhouse: Purple Dead Nettle, Nature's Soft-Spoken Healer

You ever find yourself side-eyeing a weed and wondering, "Are you just here to be annoying, or are you hiding something magical?" Let me introduce you to Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum), the weed that's been glowing up in the background while everyone was busy chasing elderberry syrup and mushroom powder.

This little fuzzy-leafed queen isn’t just cute with her purply-pink top and heart-shaped leaves—she’s a true herbal underdog, loaded with benefits, and growing right under your boots. Let’s talk about why she deserves a permanent spot in your wildcrafting basket, your apothecary shelf, and maybe even your soul.

 

🌸 What Even Is Purple Dead Nettle?

  • Botanical Name: Lamium purpureum

  • Family: Mint family (Lamiaceae)

  • Looks Like: Soft fuzzy triangle-ish leaves, green toward the bottom and deep purple at the top, topped with delicate pink flowers.

  • Found: EVERYWHERE. Especially in early spring. Cracks in your driveway, your garden bed, trails—she's there.

  • Why "Dead" Nettle? Because unlike true nettles, her sting is dead. No ouchies here.

 

💊 Why She's a Must-Have in Your Herbal Arsenal

1. Anti-Inflammatory & Antibacterial

Wounds? Bug bites? Skin irritation? She’s got your back. Infused oils and salves made with Purple Dead Nettle are soothing and gentle—perfect for sensitive skin or kid-safe formulas.

2. Allergy Season MVP

Yes, this little plant is a natural antihistamine. Sip her in a tea or tincture when spring pollen has your face melting. She helps your body respond calmly instead of going full sneezing rage mode.

3. Mildly Astringent & Detoxifying

Supports the lymphatic system, reduces swelling, and helps move stuck energy. Great for when you're feeling puffy, stagnant, or like your body is just... tired.

4. Nutritive AF

Rich in vitamins C, A, iron, and fiber. Toss the young leaves in a smoothie or salad (go easy, they can be slightly bitter) and give your cells something to dance about.

5. Bee Magnet

Dead Nettle flowers bloom early when bees are hungry. Keeping her in your yard = feeding your pollinators = better garden life. It’s a full-circle gift.

 

🌿 How I Use Purple Dead Nettle on the Daily

💼 Fresh Infusion (aka Weed Tea)

Hot water + handful of purple dead nettle = earthy, slightly grassy tea that helps with seasonal sniffles.

🧼 Dead Nettle Salve

Infused in olive oil with a little beeswax, this is my go-to for cuts, dry patches, even dog scratches.

🍵 Tincture for the Win

I make an early spring tincture with her and chickweed for seasonal allergy support. A few drops under the tongue? Game-changer.

🧁 Smoothie Toss-In

Young leaves go straight into green smoothies. My goats judge me every time, but they don’t know what this herbalist gut is powered by.

 

⚡ Important Notes

  • Avoid harvesting near roads or sprayed areas. She’s a clean-up queen and will absorb whatever’s around her.

  • Taste test before making a salad—she’s mild but earthy, not everyone’s thing.

  • Always double check your plant ID. While she’s pretty easy to spot, get familiar with her leaf shape and flower placement.

 

🚀 Final Thoughts: Weed or Wonder?

Purple Dead Nettle is the kind of herb that doesn’t yell for attention. She just is. Helpful. Present. Humble. Healing. She reminds us that some of the best medicine grows unnoticed until we slow down and see it for what it is.

So next time you see her peeking up through the garden bed or sneaking between the kale, don’t yank her out. Thank her. Harvest her. Work with her.

Because real healing? It usually starts with the weeds we were taught to ignore.

 

Disclaimer: Not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. For educational purposes only. Consult your herbalist, doctor, or wise grandma before using wild plants medicinally.

Interesting Facts About Purple Dead Nettle

 

  • It’s not actually a nettle.
    Despite the name, Purple Dead Nettle isn’t related to stinging nettles and won’t sting you. The “dead” in its name refers to the fact that its leaves are soft and stingless.

 

  • It’s part of the mint family.
    With its square stem and slightly fuzzy leaves, it shares a family tree with peppermint and spearmint—but without the strong scent.

 

  • It has no toxic lookalikes.
    One of the safest wild plants for beginner foragers, its closest lookalike is henbit—and that’s edible too.

 

  • The more purple, the less phosphorus in your soil.
    Its vibrant purple top leaves can be an indicator that your soil is low in phosphorus. It’s not just beautiful—it’s a plant-based soil test!

 

  • It’s an early spring superfood.
    One of the first plants to pop up in late winter and early spring, Purple Dead Nettle offers vital nectar for bees and nutrients for us. It’s rich in Vitamin C, iron, and fiber.

 

  • It supports your immune system.
    Purple Dead Nettle has traditionally been used for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

 

  • You can use it fresh or dried.
    Toss it into teas, infuse it in oils or vinegar, dry it for your apothecary shelf, or blend it into green powders.

 

  • It grows almost everywhere.
    From backyards to sidewalks and field edges, this wild healer is a common sight—once you know what you’re looking for.

 

  • It makes a great poultice.
    The leaves can be crushed and applied to minor cuts or wounds to soothe inflammation and help prevent infection.

 

  • Bees love it.
    Purple Dead Nettle blooms early when little else is flowering, making it an important food source for pollinators waking up from winter.