Urtica (qián) is a perennial herb of Urticaceae. There are about 35 species of nettles in the world, and there are 16 species and 6 subspecies 1 variety in China. Sichuan and Zhejiang people call it white snake hemp, Shaanxi and Gansu people call it fire hemp, and Hubei people call it snake hemp and white live hemp. We have a lot of nettles here. They grow in a wide range, along river banks, in wasteland, on both sides of roads, and even in front of and behind houses. Rural people dare not touch it when they work or walk, because there are fine hairs on the stems and leaves, and people's skin touches it.

What impressed me the most was that I had a stomachache when I was a child and didn't have time to run to the toilet. I squatted down beside the pigsty to relieve myself. At that time, our rural children hardly used toilet paper to go to the toilet. They all pick mugwort leaves, Eupatorium adenophorum or other leaves to wipe their bottoms. Nettle and scorpion grass are two easily confused plants. The plant mistaken for nettle is probably scorpion grass. Some people think that scorpion grass is another name for nettle, but it is not.

Urtica has many uses, for example, stem bark fiber can be made into hemp rope or used as raw material for clothing. Many toothpaste factories use refined nettles as raw materials for herbal toothpaste. Nettle can also be made into nettle oil. Cooking tastes good, but it is not popular because of the price. Nettles grow in a wide range, and we can see a nest of nettles on our local barren slope. The appearance of nettles is somewhat similar to wormwood and gray strips, but the color is bright green and very bright. If you are a little more careful, you won't admit your mistake.

However, although nettle is notorious, it has high medicinal value and use value, and its tender leaves and shoots can be eaten by people. But I have never eaten it, because I was covered with spikes when I was a child, and I didn't know where to get it. It can treat constipation, urticaria, polio and rheumatism, but I must take it under the guidance of a doctor, otherwise it may cause adverse reactions.