Catnip: not just for cats

We had some cats when I was in college, and one day a roommate "accidentally" spilled dried catnip on one of the living room chairs. She "tried" to get it cleaned up, but still left about an eighth of a cup spread over the seat. As soon as the cats caught wind of it, there were hysterically elated, rolling in it, clawing the chair in euphoria, and fighting each other for rights to The Nip.

This is probably most people's experience with catnip, but what they're missing out on is that humans can enjoy it, too. It can be used as a medicinal herb, in food and drink, and to attract bees to the garden. Catnip leaves and flowers can be infused as an herbal tea. It produces a mildly minty, light green liquor that has great benefits for the human body. It's a member of the Mint family, and so has many of the same benefits as peppermint and peppermint tea. It is great for soothing headaches and calming upset stomach. It induces sleep and perspiration without raising body temperature, so it is an excellent choice in relieving colds and fevers. Its minty, cooling qualities are helpful in soothing scalp irritations and as an application to external bruises.

Catnip contains several different vitamins (A, C, and B-complex) as well as many different minerals including magnesium, manganese, iron, selenium, potassium, chromium and others. The vitamin C in addition to its soothing qualities may be why it's so recommended for treating colds and coughs. The iron present in it, as well as the vitamin C necessary to absorbing iron, are probably why it is recommended in treating anemia.

  
Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is a sedative and analgesic. It has a relaxing effect on people, but will not cause the heightened euphoria that cats experience. At one time the dried leaves were smoked as an alternative to catnip tea.
 

Catnip was once revered not only as a medicinal herb, but as a culinary seasoning. Try rubbing some catnip leaves on meat to add flavor. Catnip is closely related to basil, so substituting dry or fresh catnip leaves for basil could work (though I've not tried it...yet).Of course, if you don't want to try it yourself, you can dry the leaves and stuff them into cloth mouse toys for your cats.
 

You may notice all these uses involve the leaves and/or flowers of catnip. There is no clear or current use for the catnip root, but at one time there was a superstition that the root could make a person go mad and do terrible things. The hangman or executioner in those days would supposedly brew a catnip root tea to give him the madness required to successfully take another person's life. Catnip root was then known as "Hangman's Root," which I just learned from a mystery novel of the same name.

Other miscellaneous uses for catnip: the scent repels rats, planting it near veggies protects those plants from flea beetles. My favorite is that catnip repels mosquitos (as do lavender, lemongrass, basil...and many more).

 

Catnip verses Catmint

 
Catnip - this is the one with medicinal properties
latin name: Nepeta cataria
family: Mint (Lamiaceae/formerly Labitae)
 
prefers  moist, well-drained soil in a sunny spot. after flowering, cut it back to encourage further blooms. hardy in zones 4-9 (though I'm in zone 3, and it is rampant in the groves and woods here in Minnesota).

Catmint - this one is a more decorative variety with less effect on cats and no medicinal properties
latin name: Nepeta mussinii
family: Mint (Lamiaceae/formerly Labitae)

enjoys same soil and sun conditions as Catnip. also hardy zones 4-9.

 

Recipes

 

Catnip Tea

use as a pleasing beverage that includes essential vitamins OR as treatment for: upset stomach, gas, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation; colds, coughs, sore throat, fever, chills, pneumonia; restlessness, colic, insomnia, anemia, worms, headache, toothache, pain, hives, measles, swelling

1 teaspoon dry (or 3 teaspoons fresh) catnip leaves per 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep 10 minutes before straining out the leaves.

For iced catnip tea, prepare double strength, let cool after straining, and serve over ice.
 



Catnip Bath
use to soothe coughs and colds and to reduce fever, or as a soothing bath for tiredness

Add a sachet of dried or fresh catnip to the tub while it is filling.

Catnip Steam Bowl
this is soothing for cold and cough symptoms

Prepare hot catnip tea and pour into a big glass or metal dish. Sit with your face over the steaming liquid, and place a towel over your head and around the dish to shut in the steam. Breathe deeply.
 
Catnip Poultice
Mash leaves and flowering tops and apply to an external bruise.

Catnip Cheesy Bread
Slice a loaf of French or Italian bread lengthwise. Mix 4 tablespoons melted butter, 4 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 teaspoons dry, chopped catnip. Brush this on the bread. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. Bake 10 minutes at 400 F. Yummmm...note the catnip is used in place of basil, its close cousin.


Sources: 
Bremness. The Complete Book of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs. Viking Studio Books, 1988.
Carter. Herbs: A Garden Project Workbook. Stewart Tabori & Chang, 1997.

"Catnip." Healthy Warehouse, 7 Dec 2016, http://www.healthywarehouse.com/herbs/single-herbs/catnip.asp

Foster and Hobbs. Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.

Pursell. The Herbal Apothecary. Timber Press, 2015.