Welcome to the second weekly newsletter from Elsa's Eco-Workshop.
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Nettle: Stinging and Healing
In this newsletter, we'll share last week's news and discuss an ingredient that is both stinging and healing. This miraculous plant is a resilient and fiercely self-defending weed, yet it's also a highly nutrient-rich and effective ingredient for itching, flaking, and hair loss. This green marvel is called Nettle. Elsa's Eco-Workshop offers two shampoo products containing nettle. The revitalizing shampoo bar for human scalps, named Nockoinen, was named in honor of a naming competition, using a 17th-century Finnish word. The skin-healing shampoo bar for dogs, Hessu, was named after Mari's dog, Hessu. This shampoo was designed for Hessu's itchy and flaky skin.
Nettle Heals the Scalp
Jenni from Elsa's Eco-Workshop once found relief for her itchy and scabby scalp with Nockoinen shampoo bar. Since then, Jenni hasn't had to pay attention to her scalp, as it has been healthy. However, on a weekend trip to the cottage, Jenni forgot her own shampoo and had to wash her hair with liquid shampoo (which, surprisingly enough, was also a nettle shampoo). Immediately after washing, her scalp began to itch, and the itching continued until Jenni returned to her own products and washed her hair again with Nockoinen. Within just one day, scabs had already appeared on her scalp from intense scratching. You usually only appreciate something good when you lose it. It was a good experiment, and perhaps now the soap maker will remember to pack her own products for a friend's cottage.
Nettle Nourishes Internally and Externally
So, don't suffer from an itchy scalp unnecessarily; switch to using Elsa's Eco-Workshop Nockoinen shampoo bar. Nettle as an ingredient is a superfood, whether consumed internally or applied externally. It's rich in vitamins and minerals, including silicon, which revitalizes the scalp and accelerates hair growth. In spring, Mari makes nettle pancakes, soup, and sauce, and uses it as a garden fertilizer by making nettle water to water her flowers. Elsa's Eco-Workshop's philosophy has always included growing and collecting ingredients ourselves. However, due to nettle's nasty sting, it has always been sourced elsewhere from the start; we don't want to do absolutely everything ourselves :)
Tar Salve Helps with Nettle Stings
What if nettle still surprises you during play or a bike ride? A stinging rash appears on the skin that nothing helps. This weekend, Jenni got to test our new product, tar salve, even on a child's legs stung by nettle. The stinging immediately calmed down, and play could resume shortly. So, the unpleasant effects of nettle are relieved by Forest Bath tar salve, which you should carry with you and use as first aid for all kinds of unpleasantness.
Nettle Also Soothes Dog Skin
On Monday at the workshop, Hessu, the skin-healing shampoo bar for dogs, was made. Mari developed the Hessu shampoo for her beloved late dog, Hessu, who suffered from itchy and flaky skin his entire life. After dozens of trials, Mari couldn't find a shampoo for Hessu that both washed well and soothed his skin. On the contrary, some dog shampoos increased itching, and some even caused bloody and festering rashes. So, it's no wonder Mari decided to develop a shampoo bar for Hessu herself. Hessu shampoo contains plenty of nettle to soothe the skin, as well as bentonite clay, which effectively removes toxins and impurities from the skin. Oats, in turn, increase skin protection and moisture, and domestic camelina oil reduces skin inflammation. This excellent combination of wonderful natural ingredients ensures the cleanliness of the dog's coat and skin while soothing the skin underneath the coat.
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What do you think of nettle's dual nature? Do you utilize this stinging ingredient in your own life? Tell us in the comments what benefits you've gained from this weed, or do your experiences lean towards bitter, stinging moments?
Have a great week, and thank you for reading our blog.
With fresh regards,
Mari Tiira and Jenni Äijälä
