Fresh nettle? Not dried? Nettle has to be cooked or dried to remove the "sting." I'm not sure steeping counts as cooking. Please clarify!

That aside, not every herb is for everyone. If you find something that disagrees with you, listen to your body and avoid it. I, for example, have to avoid raspberry leaf. While it makes a nice tea and has its medicinal uses, it gives me a wicked headache that comes on before I've even finished the cup of tea.

FataMorgana

If you poured boiling water over the fresh leaves, that should have been sufficient to 'kill' the sting. But - as FataMorgana has already said, not every herb is suitable for every person. One man's meat is another man's poison. If you've had a reaction to nettle tea, avoid it altogether in future.

BTW, if you're on blood pressure tablets, or if you suffer from high blood pressure, nettle tea is contraindicated.

Thanks for your responses! I think my body doesn't like nettle, which saddens me. I am in a full blown allergy/chest cold all from a silly cup of tea. To answer your questions, 2-3 cups boiling water over a good sized handful of fresh leaf tips, steeped for over 10 minutes. I ate the steeped leaves to try them (first timer) and then drank some tea. I might wait a good long while and try this again with a much smaller concentration. :)

My advice is that you wait a very long time - like FOREVER - before you try nettle tea again. Your body doesn't like it, and a second attempt isn't going to improve matters - next time is likely to have an even stronger reaction. Don't do it.

I think you are right daisy. I have experienced almost pneumonia symptoms. I think I was incredulous that it was from the tea, but I am beginning to accept it. :)