Common Name: |
Catnip |
Other Names: |
Catmint, catswort, field balm |
Botanical Name: |
Nepeta cataria |
Genus: |
Nepeta |
Family: |
Lamiaceae |
Native Location: |
Europe, SW and C Asia |
Cultivation: |
Moist, well-drained soil in sun. Seedlings reach flowering size in the first year. Cut back hard for second harvest. Powdery mildew may damage leaves. Nepeta cataria is said to repel cabbage pests, aphids (including peach aphids), flea beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants, if planted among garden plants and vegetables. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in autumn; by division in spring or autumn; by stem-tip or softwood cuttings in early summer. |
Harvest: |
Plants are cut when in bud and dried for use in infusions. Leaves are picked when young for culinary purposes and used fresh or dried. |
Height: |
30cm-1.5m (1-5ft) |
Width: |
23-90cm (9-36in) |
Variations: |
Citriodora Is smaller growing and lemon-scented. Often preferred for tea; and less attractive to cats. Height: 30cm-1m (1-3ft) Width: 23-60cm (9-24in) |
Hardiness: |
Z4-9 |
Parts Used: |
Whole plant, leaves, stems, flower |
Properties: |
A bitter, astringent, cooling herb with a camphoraceous, pennyroyal-thyme aroma. It lowers fever, relaxes spasms, increases perspiration, and has carminative and sedative effects. |
Vitamin Content: |
Thiamin |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for feverish illnesses (especially colds, and influenza), insomnia, excitability, palpitations, nervous indigestion, diarrhea, stomach upsets, colic, and digestion-related headaches. May be combined with Achillea millefolium (See, yarrow) and Sambucus nigra (See, Elder) for feverish stages of colds and influenza, and with Glechoma hederacea (See, Ground Ivy) for congestive stages. Externally for hemorrhoids, and as a rub for rheumatism and arthritis. To treat colds, fever, colic, migraine headaches, gynecological disorders, and nervous disorders. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of catnip is two 300 mg capsules three times daily at meals. |
Possible Side Effects: |
Catnip's side effects include vomiting and headache. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking catnip with these drugs may cause excessive sedation and mental depression and inpairment: |
Alprazolam, (Apo-Alpraz, Xanax) |
Amitriptyline, (Elavil, Levate) |
Amoxapine, (Asendin) |
Bupropion, (Wellbutrin, Zyban) |
Buspirone, (BuSpar, Nu-Buspirone) |
Clonazepam, (Klonopin, Rivotril) |
Cyclobenzaprine, (Flexeril, Novo-Cycloprine) |
Desipramine, (Alti-Desipramine, Norpramin) |
Diazepam, (Apo-Diazepam, Valium) |
Diphenhydramine, (Benadryl Allergy, Nytol) |
Doxepin, (Sinequan, Zonalon) |
Fluoxetine, (Prozac, Sarafem) |
Fluphenazine, (Modecate, Prolixin) |
Flurazepam, (Apo-Flurazepam, Dalmane) |
Imipramine, (Apo-Imipramine, Tofranil) |
Lorazepam, (Ativan, Nu-Loraz) |
Metoclopramide, (Apo-Metaclop, Reglan) |
Midazolam, (Apo-Midazolam, Versed) |
Morphine Hydrochloride, (Morphine Hydrochloride) |
Morphine Sulfate, (Kadian, MS Contin) |
Nefazodone, (Serzone) |
Nortriptyline, (Aventyl HCl, Pamelor) |
Olanzapine, (Zydis, Zyprexa) |
Oxazepam, (Novoxapam, Serax) |
Oxcarbazepine, (Trileptal) |
Prochlorperazine, (Compazine, Compro) |
Propoxyphene, (Darvon, Darvon-N) |
Quetiapine, (Seroquel) |
Risperidone, (Risperdal) |
Temazepam, (Restoril, Novo-Temazepam) |
Tramadol, (Ultram) |
Triazolam, (Apo-Triazo, Halcion) |
Zolpidem, (Ambien) |
|
Disease Interactions: |
May worsen cases of pelvic inflammatory disease and extra-heavy menstrual bleeding. |
Supplement Interactions: |
May enhance therapeutic and adverse effects of herbs, and supplements that have sedative properties, such as 5-HTP, Kava Kava, St. John's Wort, and Valerian. |
Culinary Uses: |
Leaves are infused for a mint-like tea (lemon-scented in the case of 'Citriodora'), and added salads, sauces, and stews. |
Economic Uses: |
Dried catnip is used to stuff cat toys. |
Bibliography: |
The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2005. Dorling Kindersley Limited. pg 288. The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright ©2007 Barry Fox,PhD PP.134-135 |