There there this will make that nettle sting feel better , (Broad-leafed dock)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Broad-leafed dock
Date:	04/05/07 (858 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: eases the sting from nettles

Disadvantages: Can be invasive

Ohh dear did you get stung by the nasty stinging nettles , Ahhh there, there let me make it better I know a magic plant that usually grows near nettles it likes the same rich soil.
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Here is some it’s a Dock it’s a broad leafed dock there are many plants in this genus Rumex one other is the sorrel. This genus is one of the Polygonaceae family.
The broad leafed dock is sometimes called the butter dock as it has large leaves and a long time ago the farmer used to wrap the leaves around a pat of butter to keep it fresh

So how would you recognise a Dock when you next get a nettle sting?

The Broad leaved dock is widespread, a garden weed, a plant of rough ground. It is found in Europe and America.
This plant is a perennial that self seeds and quickly becomes a nuisance.

Leaves
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The leaves of the Broad leafed dock grow in a rosette from the ground this plant grows tall the stems growing up to up to a metre high. The leaves as the name implies are wide they are oval shaped and they can grow quite large. The leaves are very slightly wavy around the edges. They are a dark green, sometimes reddish. Underneath if you look at the veins you will see hairs growing on them.

Stem

One long stem grows from the base this is ribbed and can be a brown, red /green colour. This stem is ribbed there are leaves growing up this stem. The flower is formed at the top of the stem.

Flowers
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The flowers are small; they grow in groups at the top of the stem. The flowers look more like seeds than flowers they are green turning to a reddish brown, rusty in colour seed. A lot of people suffer with hay fever from the pollen from this flower.

Seeds

The flowers develop into seeds; the seeds are in a triangular fruit/seed case. The seeds germinate easily.

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If you dig the Dock up you will find it has very long tap roots an orange brown colour. If when you are weeding this plant out you leave a small portion of root it will regenerate.

Uses of Dock
Dock leaves contain an astringent and a purgative. So as well as relieving the pain from stinging nettles I have heard an infusion of the root will soothe excma and psoriasis sufferers if applied to the skin, but do check this out before using please. Also I believe that Dock leaves are a laxative, but the leaves do taste bitter. Again check this out before using.
The leavers of dock contain tannin and anthraquinone.

I believe dock can be used culinary too but again check elsewhere for info on this.

I hope your nettle sting feels better now, be careful next time . Mary

Summary: A plant that can ease nettle stings