Nettle
You might want to grab a pair of gloves before you try picking this prickly herb. Called stinging nettles, this plant has tiny hairs on the leaves that cause a burning sensation when you touch them. In fact, the plant contains a poison similar to that in bee stings and snakebites. Even its Latin name, (urtica dioica) means "to burn." Steaming or boiling the leaves, however, kills their stinging properties. In fact, nettle is used as a kitchen herb in many parts of the world.
Even more powerful than its sting, however, are this plant's amazing medicinal properties. Mentioned in the Book of Job, nettles may contain substances that alleviate arthritis symptoms; they are also rich sources of vitamins A, C, and E as well as many antioxidants.
Source: James A. Duke, Ph.D., Herbs of the Bible: 2000 Years of Plant Medicine (Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, 1999)