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Catnip, also known as catmint, catswort, and field balm, is a member
of the mint family of herbs and is believed to have originated in
regions of Europe. Today catnip can be found growing in most of the
milder climates of the Northern Hemisphere. Catnip plants have
fuzzy, grayish-green leaves and small, white flowers that bloom in
the summer. The flowers, leaves and stem are cut while the plants
are in full flower and then dried for use in herbal preparations.
Because it repels certain insects, catnip or chemicals derived from
it have been used in pesticides.
Taken orally, catnip is most
commonly used in connection with anxiety, insomnia, and nervousness.
It contains a substance, known as nepetalactone, which has a
sedative effect in humans. (Nepetalactone is very similar to
valepotriate found in valerian, a more
commonly used herbal sedative.) Due to this effect, catnip may also
be used to help lessen migraine headaches. Catnip has also been used
historically to relieve stomach complaints such as colic, cramps,
gas, and indigestion because chemicals in it may have
muscle-relaxing, or antispasmodic, effects.
Topically, catnip
has often been used reduce swelling associated with arthritis,
hemorrhoids, and soft tissue injuries.
Dosage and
Administration
Capsule and oral liquid forms of
catnip are available commercially and dried catnip may be brewed
into a tea. Although dosing for catnip is not standardized, a common
recommendation for catnip tea is 1 or 2 teaspoons of dried aerial
parts soaked for about 10 minutes in 1 cup of water that has been
allowed to boil and then taken away from the heat. Boiling catnip
may cause the loss of active ingredients. Catnip is usually taken
three times a day.
To use topically, dried leaves or flowers
of catnip are moistened with warm water to make a poultice, which is
applied externally as often as needed. Cooled catnip tea may also be
used as a soak or a wash.
Supporting
Literature
Sherry CJ, Hunter PS. The effect
of an ethanol extract of catnip (Nepeta cataria) on the behavior of
the young chick. Experientia 1979;35:237–238. Weiss RF. Herbal
Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum, 1988. Tyler VE. Herbs of
Choice. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994,
120–121.
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