Nettle tea

[Goose]

Just been a feature on radio4 about selling nettle tea to china!
Amongst the information it was stated not to make use nettles after flowering as it can cause kidney problems, not something I heard before, anybody know the details?

 

[JonnyP]

I have just looked through most my herb books and have found this "never eat uncooked old nettle leaves as they can cause kidney damage". Only one book mentioned this and none mention about the tea being dodgy after flowering.
Interesting though...............Jon

 

[Goose]

Here is a link for the programme, you and yours, it is the last 15 minutes that they are talking about nettle tea.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?
/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/youandyours_wed"
The chairman of gardeners question time talks about how good and easy nettle tea is then warns,"never use leaves of nettles after the plant has flowered as it apparantly/it can cause damage to your kidneys" and this has been known since the bronze age!