1. How are nettle and borage used in the Mediterranean countries?
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2. Nettle
Stinging plants which cause an itchy sensation wherever they touch human skin.
Look very off-putting, but are apparently very nutritious.
Widely used as food being rich in vitamins A, C, D, iron, potassium, manganese and calcium, and are higher in protein than other plants.
Its leaves and flowers are used to make a herbal tea.
The water you cook the nettles in can be kept for tea or as a soup base.

3. Nettle Medicinal Uses Coughs Eczema Urinary tract infections
Good for:
Coughs
Anaemia
Eczema
Hay Fever
Urinary tract infections
Kidney problems
Lowers blood pressure
Induces lactation
Arthritis

4. How do you cook stinging nettles?
Steam on top of veggie stir fry or mix in
Can substitute spinach in any cooked recipe
Add to lasagne
Make pasta with them
Throw in soups or stews
Do nettle tea

5. Used in a variety of recipes, such as polenta, pesto, and purée.
Used with salads and risottos, or into a healthy and hearty, natural sugo for potato gnocchi.
Since nettles have a deep, green colour, in Italy they are often mixed into dough and used to colour fresh pasta.
Because of their herbaceous taste, they are the perfect ingredient for soups, frittatas, risotto, savoury tarts and ravioli filling.

6. In Italy…
Frittata
Pasta
Risotto

7. Borage
Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, where it thrives in rich soil and full sun.
Traditionally cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses. Borage leaves have been used as a potherb and in European herbal medicine since the Middle Ages.
Today cultivated commercially and used mainly as an oilseed.
Used as either a fresh vegetable in salads or as a garnish, or as a dried herb.

8. Borage Medicinal Uses
Borage seed oil contains a high content of the essential fatty acid known as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is part of the inflammatory mediation process.
Clinical tests verify that GLA has health and medical benefits, and in fact it helps in the treatment of:
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Atopic eczema
Diabetic neuropathy

9. Contemporary European herbalists use Borage tea to restore strength during recovery from surgery and as an adrenal tonic to balance and restore the health of the adrenal glands following periods of stress.
Borage promotes lactation and sweating, and relieves fevers.
The soothing mucilage in borage makes it a beneficial treatment for dry cough, throat irritation, chest colds and bronchitis.
Borage tea is also a good remedy for such digestive disturbances as gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome.
A poultice of crushed Borage leaves will relieve insect bites and stings, reduce swelling and bruising and is also helpful for clearing up boils and rashes.

10. Borage Culinary Uses Can be used in: Young leaves can be: soups salads
borage-lemonade
strawberry-borage cocktails
preserves
borage jelly
various sauces
cooked as a stand-alone vegetable
used in desserts in the form of fresh or candied flowers
eaten raw in salads
chopped into cream cheese or yoghurt
added to stocks, soups and stews
used in place of lettuce in sandwiches
cooked in ravioli
used as a curry
used to make a borage and ricotta pizza

11. Use of Borage in beverages and drinks
To flavour a glass of tomato juice or cocktail add 1 tablespoon minced young borage leaves.
Add borage flowers when serving alcoholic drinks and fruit drinks.
Especially good with a claret cup.
Add borage leaves and flowers to hot or iced tea or lemonade.
Add flowers to herbal vinegar as a dye and for a slight cucumber flavour.
How To Make Borage Tea
Pour a cup of boiling water over a quarter cup of freshly picked leaves
Steep for 5 minutes
Drain
Sip a cup twice a day

12. The End