Stinging Nettles

Interesting plant that plagues us all. Imagine a world without them - you could run about naked in the countryside blindfolded - well maybe not but it is the blight of all our childhoods - falling in a bed of stingers was something that loomed large over every activity - the worst I found was falling off your bike into a bed of stingers, but anyway - can we blame the Romans for these? Someone told me they were introduced by them but it seems it is only a particular variety. Why would you introduce nettles? - well eating is one reason and the story that Britain was so cold it was necessary to flog your legs with them to keep warm - but also apparently Romans applied nettles 'below the navel' to improve virility. Bizarre.
Have a look at the above linked page on nettles - it might prove useful - for instance
It is a strange fact that the juice of the Nettle proves an antidote for its own sting, and being applied will afford instant relief: the juice of the Dock, which is usually found in close proximity to the Nettle, has the same beneficial action.
'Nettle in, dock out.
Dock rub nettle out!'
is an old rhyme.
You never know when you might fall in a bed of stingers.
Wiki on stinging nettles