I have eaten these as a hot green side and they are delicious! Of course, you have to collect them with gloves or tongs.
The reason stinging nettles sting is that they have a kind of formic acid in them, much like is found in ants. Boiling them completely destroys the formic acid and any hint of a sting. Cook them until they are totally soggy or wilted before eating. If picking wild nettles for eating, harvest only the top four inches of the plant. It's been my experience that they are best as a green or in salads in the spring. You may want to remove thick stems from nettle tops before cooking.

For nettle tea, pour boiling water over fresh (or dried) nettles. Be sure to strain nettles out before drinking. Nettle tea is supposed to be good for arthritis and as a detoxifier for the blood. The dried herb and fresh plant juice have been used as a good diuretic, astringent, and to treat anemia (due to their high iron content). The powdered leaves or fresh leaf juice have been applied to cuts to stop bleeding. Nettle tea has been used to stimulate blood circulation and as a spring tonic for chronic skin ailments.