Very interesting post, and what timing - I am experiencing and wondering the same thing! I had my wife test the nettles growing here and it stung her, but not me. I was thinking maybe that because I've been taking a spagyric tincture of nettle leaf and root that perhaps the reaction has lessened, but after researching the variety growing here (East Coast USA) I think that it is actually Wood Nettle. The leaves are more ovate and the profile not as tall. It is in the Urticacea family, but different genus (Laportea canadensis). It is apparently used interchangeably with Urtica dioca in food/medicine. There is a slight skin irritation (more for my wife) but nothing requiring gloves for me.
