Hi Penny,

Sounds like you found yourself ( your hand anyway ) on the business end of a stinging nettle . More info here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle

Remedy here : http://www.ehow.com/how_2278523_treat-sting-from-stinging-nettle.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Signet

Ouch....did that myself earlier this year. The baking soda and water remedy that Signet posted really worked for me.

Thank you so much for the info. This is what I touched and I now know what to do and what NOT to do. The baking soda worked great. Thanks again.
Penny

There is something else you can do with stinging nettle. In early spring the young shoots are picked and cooked. We usually saute until tender add some balsamic vinegar and it's ready to eat. Just make sure you pick in a field away from the road. We pick ours at an abandoned farm.

They make good fertilizer too, adding a lot of nutrients to the soil

Our native Impatiens species are a remedy for stinging nettles, make a poultice by crushing the impatiens and apply to the irritated area.

Nettles are very nutritious and are very high in calcium, many people do eat them. The stinging hairs are located in the stem so if you are careful you can pick leaves without getting stung.

Mike

jewelweed is also reported to work to soothe poison ivy. even though the leaves are off, you can still get a rash from touching the 'dead' vine! When nettles are cook/dried they loose their sting...supposed to taste like spinach!