Be sure to wear gloves when handling uncooked nettles - they are called stinging nettles for a reason! Once steamed, they are safe to handle and highly nutritious and delicious (a little lemon-ginger-garlic juice and/or tamari is lovely squeezed over freshly-steamed nettles)! They are especially high in Calcium. Nettles can also be steeped into a nourishing tea.