Catnip / Hierba Gatera
Nepeta cataria
Latin Name:Nepeta cataria
Common Name: Catwort, Cat-in-clover, Katzenminze
Family: Laminaceae
Contraindications: Do not take if pregnant. Large dosages can cause vomiting. Do not give catnip to kids regularly, take breaks in between. To see how your medication may interact with this plant, check this database, consult with your local herbalist, and do your own research before working with any plants.
Native To: Native to the SWANA region (Southwest Asia, North Africa), Central Asia, southern and Eastern Europe; it has naturalized in temperate regions around the world.
Botanical Description: Perennial plant with paired, pointed, pale green oval leaves which are serrated with a hairy underside. The small white flowers are tubular, two-lipped and dotted with deep red. These grow in dense little spiked clusters, blooming from summer into autumn.
Habitat:
Parts Used: Leaves and Flowers
Key Constituents:
Volatile oils (nepetalactones, thymol, geraniol, alpha and beta pinene, beta caryophyllene)
Phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid)
Flavonoids (luteolin and apigenin)
Tannins
Herbal Actions: Anodyne, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, mucolytic, nervine, sedative, stomachic
Taste: Aromatic, Slightly Bitter and Astringent
Energetics: Warming (digestive stimulant), Cooling (releasing anxiety)
Some Ways to Work With This Plant:
Digestive Support: The flavanoids (water soluble) are the root of catnip’s slightly bitter property. The bitter rosmarinic acid (most soluble in alcohol, then vinegar, then glycerin, then water) present in catnip boosts the production of digestive secretions throughout gastrointestinal tract, bringing ease to digestion. The volatile oils (soluble in alcohol) support in easing the smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal system to ease cramps or griping pain. Combine with chamomile and lemon balm to create a calming digestive tea that can be taken before a meal to prevent anxiety induced by digestive discomfort.
Nervine: Soothes anxiousness that causes poor digestion which causes discomfort such as: bellyaches, heartburn, butterflies in stomach, colic, griping pain, etc. The volatile oils in catnip relax the smooth muscles in digestive system, relieving muscle spasms in intestinal tract. As a nervine, it has a cooling effect on symptoms caused by anxiousness.
Antispasmodic: The volatile oils in catnip contribute to its ability to calm the smooth muscles down in the body, specifically those in the gastrointestinal tract.
Relaxing Diaphoretic: The volatile oils in catnip help to loosen tight, tense tissues, open pores to release heat through skin. Combine with yarrow or peppermint for a fever tea.
Herbal Preparations:
Tea: 1-2 tsp dried herb steeped in 10-12 oz hot water (best for colds & flus, upset stomachs, stress relief)
Tincture: 30-60 drops directly in the mouth (best for small children/babies due to ease for issues such as teething, colic, upset stomachs, and general crankiness, older children would benefit from the tea as well
References:
CommonWealth Herbs: Catnip Materia Medica
written by khadija khansia
This information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Use with caution and consult with a doctor or herbalist before consuming if you are pregnant or on other medications. Please do your own research before consuming to know if this medicine is right for your body.
