If you spent time outdoors as a child, down by the river or deep in the woods, the chances are high that you got stung by a few nettles. Coming home crying with burning legs after tearing through the long weeds in your shorts was practically a rite of passage for kids back in the days before screens, when the natural world was our only option for exploration. Many of us who come from Britain and Ireland were raised on the idea that a dock leaf can provide relief from a nettle sting and after being attacked by a vicious nettle, we would go hunting for one of these broad, red-tinged leaves to rub on our wounds.
To this day, if you're the sort who likes to venture out in your for a tramp in the woods, there's a chance you consider a dock leaf to be a viable home remedy. But is there any truth to this, or is it merely an old wives tale? Let’s pick through this mess and see if we can find some answers..
. Brushing up against a stinging nettle causes it to transfer formic acid from its hairs onto your skin resulting in irritation, redness, swelling, and pain that can last for anywhere from a few minutes to several days, depending on your sensitivity. A nettle sting isn’t usually anything to worry about unless you have a severe allergy, but it can be uncomfortable, and you might be seeking a quick remedy.
Some claim that the solution is found in a dock leaf, Latin name Rumex obtusifolius, which has a rounded leaf that can soothe irritated skin when crushed to release sap and rubb.
