Fennel & Nettle Tea

The swollen stem, feathery leaves and plentiful seeds of the fennel plant, Foeniculum share a sweet, licorice flavor. Stinging nettles, or Urtica dioica, may be best known for the painful chemicals that invade the skin of unwary hikers who brush the plant as they stroll in the woods. Alone or in combination, fennel seed and young nettle leaves make a flavorful, nutrient-rich tea for drinking pleasure or medicinal uses.

Vitamins and Minerals

Stinging nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as protein, iron and other trace minerals. A tea made by simmering young stinging nettle leaves was consumed by colonial Americans to avert scurvy and deter aches and pains through the winter, according to Bradford Angier's "Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants." Fennel seed is also rich in vitamins A and C along with calcium, magnesium and iron, according to NetWellness, a health information site provided by the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University.

Lactation and Colic

Fennel-seed tea is a traditional remedy for colicky infants, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Feed a colicky baby 1 tsp. of cooled fennel tea before and after feedings. Breastfeeding mothers also benefit from fennel tea. It not only soothes infants through the breastmilk but also may increase the breast-milk supply, according to the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Nettle is also known to increase milk production in a lactating mother.

Weight Loss

Stinging nettle has long been used as a diuretic, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This may account for its association with weight loss. Stinging nettle has also long been used to treat joint pain, which may increase mobility in dieters, making it easier to exercise and lose weight. Fennel seed is rich in magnesium, which may also have a diuretic effect. Taking magnesium supplements or consuming magnesium-rich foods may help relieve the bloating and weight gain of premenstrual syndrome, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Without added sugar, herbal teas like nettle and fennel tea are extremely low in calories. Substituting herbal tea for high-calorie sugary beverages like soda will also aid in weight loss.

Considerations and Warnings

Fennel seed can create photosensitivity, so people who consume fennel seed tea regularly may sunburn more easily and should avoid excessive sun exposure, according to NetWellness. Fennel seed also contains estragole, an estrogen-mimicking compound which may be responsible for its effect on lactation. Estragole has recently been identified as a potential carcinogen, according to David Hoffmann of Britain's National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Consult a physician before using fennel or nettle, or any other herbal remedy, to address lactation or weight issues or treat any other medical condition.