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Herbal Remedies Information - Catnip

This article is part of a series giving information about herbs and their medicinal properties. We are going to look at catnip in this article. You will find out what this herb is, how you can use it and the conditions that could be helped by catnip.

What is Catnip?

Catnip is a herb that grows naturally throughout Europe and has also been cultivated in North America. Catnip is a member of the mint family making it quite a hardy perennial. It can grow to a height of around 2 or 3 feet and has a tall, square, branched stems. The leaves are heart shaped and are covered with fine downy hairs on the underside of the leaves. The plant usually blooms between June and September and the flowers are dense and appear at the top of each stem. The flowers are usually coloured in the range of white to lavender with red to purple spots.

How to use Catnip

Young leaves of the plant can be eaten and due to their mint-like flavour can be added to salads and other dishes. In addition you can also make a tea with the plant and the best way to do this is to add 2 tablespoons of the dried herb to around 250mls of water. This should then be boiled up for around 10 minutes to allow the herb to infuse. You could also use fresh leaves instead of the dried herb.

You will also find if you visit a health food store you will be able to buy catnip in a number of different forms including tea bags and tinctures. If you purchase these make sure you follow the directions on the packet to ensure you get the correct dosage.

Uses of Catnip

Catnip can be used to treat a large number of different conditions. For example it has a calming property and so can be used to treat conditions like flatulence, nausea, colic and diarrhoea. In addition other similar properties means it can be used to relax muscles and so can be very valuable for conditions like menstrual cramps and well as other muscle cramps and pains.

Catnip can also be used as a mild sedative and so can be used to treat nervous conditions like stress and anxiety. It can also be helpful in treating migraines and tension headaches as well as promoting a feeling of relaxation.

Another great property of catnip is the fact it is a diaphoretic which means it can be used to induce sweating. This means it can be helpful for conditions such as fever, flu, colds and bronchitis. In addition when used externally it has astringent properties meaning it can help to heal cuts and scrapes including stopping bleeding and speeding up the healing process.

Side Effects and Precautions

There are no significant precautions you should take before using catnip, however you should ensure you purchase the herb from a reputable source to ensure it is of the relevant quality. In addition if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from a chronic medical condition you should consult your doctor before taking catnip.

Most of the side effects associated with the herb are mild but you should be aware of them. The main one is that it is a diuretic which means it can increase frequency of urination and can also cause an upset stomach. In addition the sedative nature of the herb can cause drowsiness and so you should take extra care when driving or operating machinery.

There are not known to be any medications that interact with catnip although the effects may be greater if you medication does the same thing as catnip. If you are at all concerned you should consult your doctor.