It has astringent, laxative and diuretic properties. Used to relieve chest complaints, eczema, bleeding and lower blood pressure. Nettle beer used for juandice, gout and rheumatism. Also used to relieve nose-bleeds and headaches. Whole tops, gathered before flowering, early in the year abd alum mordanted yarn gives a wax yellow.
Late picking produces a grey-green.
The stalks are dried and pounded with a wooden mallet to separate the fibres which are then spun and woven. An extract of the plant is a substitute for rennet in cheese making. The plant is also believed to have magical elements. Gaelic , fiasag nan creag Used for dyeing orange and brown Xanthoria parientina Bright yellow lichen found on stones made a pink, blue and purple dye. Fumigation with clubmoss used to treat eye disease.