Catnip is a strong smelling herb belonging to the mint family and has heart-shaped, dark green leaves and white flowering tops with purple spots. It can grow up to 1 m (3 ft.). Not only is the herb known for making cats go crazy and all happy and spunky, it is also known for its calming effect on the human body. Catnip has been used for medical purposes for generations.
History & Folklore
"The catnip plant holds a rich and varied history. While no concrete evidence exists, the Egyptians' fondness for cats suggests they were among the first to use catnip with felines. Catnip has been employed in European traditional medicine for centuries, later gaining prominence in American medicine. Its valued properties include anxiety and insomnia relief. Primarily a relaxant, it proves beneficial in calming restless children. Furthermore, catnip aids digestion and soothes the stomach. Dried flowering tops and leaves are brewed into tea. Although modern pharmaceuticals have largely replaced catnip tea for medical treatments, it remains a natural remedy for anxiety, the common cold, insomnia, and headaches. Additionally, cat owners can amuse themselves by offering catnip to their feline companions, observing their playful and 'high' behavior.
Habitat & Cultivation
Catnip is native to Central Europe, though it can also be found in North America after European settlers introduced the herb to different parts of the world. Today catnip is widely naturalised and cultivated extensively in dry wayside places, gardens and in mountainous regions. After the catnip flower fully blooms, it is best harvested in summer or autumn on a dry, sunny day.
Uses
Medicinal Actions & Uses Catnip settles the stomach, is sedative and, as it stulates sweating, reduces fever. The herb's pleasant taste and gentle action make it suitable for colds, flu, and fever in children. esecially when mixed with elderflower and sweetened with honey. Catnip is marked antiflatulent, helping settle indigestion and colic. The herb is also useful in treating headaches related to digestive problems. A tincture is beneficial as a friction run for rheumatism and arthritis
Parts used
Aerial parts Parts which grow above the ground and are completely exposed to air
References
- Chevallier, Andrew, FNIMH; Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine - 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments; 3. Edition 2016; ISBN: 978-0-2412-2944-6; Page 239 (240).
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