Catnip 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Catnip  100 g ($15.99), 50 g ($10.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Catnip, best known for its peculiar attractiveness to cats, is a carminative (an agent that helps to expel gas) and gastric stimulant in humans. It is used in folk medicine to treat colds, colic, and fevers. It has also been used in nervous disorders and migraines, since it seems to have a calming effect. In England and France, it was a culinary and medicinal herb and was used as a stimulating drink before black tea became popular. Although catnip is typically used as a calming agent, the tea actually seems to have stimulating properties. Some reports have shown that smoking catnip produces a psychedelic effect. Catnip contains constituents that have local anesthetic effects that could cause central nervous system depression or stimulation when absorbed.

Catnip tea’s biggest health benefit is the calming effect that it can have on the body. Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is similar to the valepotriates found in a commonly used herbal sedative, valerian. This can improve relaxation, which may boost mood and reduce anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness.

Catnip tea can stimulate uterine contractions, which can help women or girls with delayed menstruation get their periods. It may also help promote evacuations of the placenta following childbirth.

Compounds found in catnip include iridoids, tannins, volatile oil (mainly alph- and beta-nepetalactone, citronellol, and geraniol) antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins C and E, minerals (especially chromium, iron, manganese, potassium, selenium, and cobalt.

Influenza. Catnip teas have long been used in traditional herbal medicine to quell digestive disturbances, especially those accompanying flu or asthma. Catnip stimulates gastric secretions. This aids the movement of food and infection out of the digestive tract, while relaxing tight muscles and generally inducing relaxation. Recent laboratory research has confirmed that catnip is antimicrobial.

Insomnia. Catnip is a potent sleep-inducer for humans. It is often used to help get children to sleep or settle them down. Catnip calms without affecting you the next day. Catnip is so safe it is a long standing remedy for irritability and restless sleep in toddlers and babies. The sedative nature of this wonderfully calming herb helps to induce a fitful and restful sleep, making Catnip the go to remedy for insomnia or other sleep related problems. The phytochemical “nepetalactone”, responsible for its effect on cats, also contributes to its sedative effect on humans.

Digestive  Catnip is particularly effective in aiding digestive issues, especially constipation, excess flatulence, cramping, and bloating. Catnip is a carminative, helping to remove air stuck in the intestines by pushing it downwards until it’s expelled from the body. The relaxing, anti-inflammatory effects of Catnip’s organic compounds can ease the knots and inflammation of the gastrointestinal system and relieve tightness and discomfort.

Anxiety/Stress  The active components of Catnip are “iridoid glycosides”, which are thought to contribute to this herb’s anxiolytic and sedative effects. Used by herbalists for centuries to treat anxiety and other nervous disorders, it works particularly well against tension headaches and can induce a sense of relaxation, triggering relief from stress and anxiety.

Fevers/Colds  Fevers are usually regarded as a symptom of an acute infection or underlying illness. In response, the body raises its temperature in order to stimulate the immune system and speed up detoxification. A fever is the body’s natural defense against infection or illness and having a fever is a good indication that the body’s immune system is taking action. Reducing a fever can actually be counterproductive and may actually increase a cold or virus’s duration. Using herbs to help your body sweat out a fever while supporting and strengthening your immune system will help you get well faster. Catnip is classed as a “diaphoretic” herb, meaning it can induce perspiration without raising body temperature to help break a fever. Drinking it hot as a tea will help enhance its effects.

A hot Catnip infusion works as an excellent antiseptic inhalant and as a remedy for tender throats, coughs, colds and flu, in addition to working as a decongestant to alleviate sinusitis and catarrh as well as relaxing croup and asthma.

Wounds/Burns  Catnip possesses antiseptic attributes which are effective in treating skin infections. This herb contains high levels of tannins which help to accelerate the process of repairing damaged tissues and stop hemorrhages from grazes and cuts. The tannins are also useful in curing burn injuries and scalds, insect bites, piles and skin problems accompanied by inflammations.

Recommended Uses
Catnip is usually used as a tea. The bulk herb is available in herb shops and health food stores. The flowers are used for tea and the aerial parts are used for capsules. Tea should be consumed three times a day using about 10 teaspoons in 1 liter of water. Catnip also is available in capsules, which are 380 milligrams per capsule, and are taken as needed. Catnip should not be used during pregnancy. There are no known side effects when used at the correct amounts. Children should only take catnip if they are under the supervision of a pediatrician. There has been a report of a child chewing on a catnip tea bag and developing lethargy and abdominal pain.

Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria
English: Catnip
Also, known as: Nep, Cat’s Wort, Catnep, Katzenkraut, Catswort, Cataire, Nebeda, Catania, Catmint, Chi-hsuch-ts ao
Origin: Ukraine
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Whole plant

General Information:
This perennial herb is naturalized in the United States and found in all parts. The root is perennial and sends up square, erect and branched stems, 2 to 3 feet high, which are very leafy and covered with a mealy down. The square, erect branching stems are covered with fine whitish hairs; leaves 1-2% in Long with heart-shaped or oblong, pointed apex, the top side green with grayish-green and whitish hairs underneath. The flowers grow on short footstalks in dense whorls, which towards the summit of the stem are so close as almost to form a spike Flowering in June to September with the whitish corolla, purple dotted sectioned lips, and lobes make up the conformation of the bloom The calyx tube has fifteen ribs, a distinguishing feature of the genus Nepeta, to which this species belongs

Faintly mint aromatic, with a bitter taste. The plant has an aromatic, characteristic odor, which bears a certain resemblance to that of both Mint and Pennyroyal. The names catnip and catmint are derived from the intense attraction most cats have towards them. It is owing to this scent that it has a strange fascination for cats, who will destroy any plant of it that may happen to be bruised.

In France, the leaves and young shoots are used for seasoning, and it is regularly grown amongst kitchen herbs for the purpose. Both there and in this country, it has an old reputation for its value as a medicinal herb

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use:
1-2 tsp of dried herb/day