Catnip

[Lois]

CATNIP

 

Nepeta cataria L.;

 

Mint family (Labiatae)

 

A hardy, upright, perennial herb with sturdy stems bearing hairy, heart-shaped, grayish-green leaves. The flowers are white or lilac, 0.25 inch long, and occur in several clusters toward the tips of the branches. Native of Eurasia, naturalized in North America.

 

Cultivation and Propagation: It is easily cultivated in any garden soil, with little care, as the plant does not require the moisture that most mint plants need. Plants should be grown from seed sown where they are going to stand. Bruised or recently transplanted plants are likely to be eaten by cats unless protected. The seed should be sown very thinly in rows 20 inches apart and the seedlings thinned out to 20 inches apart in the rows. It requires almost no care except occasional weeding. A bed will last several years. It can also be propagated by division of the roots in spring.

 

Harvesting: The herb is harvested just before flowering in middle to late summer on a dry sunny day and in late morning when all dew is gone. Drying should be done carefully. The leaves are stripped from the stems and dried as quickly as possible with good ventilation out of direct sunlight, or in an oven at 150 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid losing much volatile oil.

http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/catnip.htm

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Here is some additional info from: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/catmin36.html

Medicinal Action and Uses---Carminative, tonic, diaphoretic, refrigerant and slightly emmenagogue, specially antispasmodic, and mildly stimulating.

 

Producing free perspiration, it is very useful in colds. Catnep Tea is a valuable drink in every case of fever, because of its action in inducing sleep and producing perspiration without increasing the heat of the system. It is good in restlessness, colic, insanity and nervousness, and is used as a mild nervine for children, one of its chief uses being, indeed, in the treatment of children's ailments. The infusion of 1 OZ. to a pint of boiling water may be taken by adults in doses of 2 tablespoonsful, by children in 2 or 3 teaspoonsful frequently, to relieve pain and flatulence. An injection of Catnep Tea is also used for colicky pains.

 

The herb should always be infused, boiling will spoil it. Its qualities are somewhat volatile, hence when made it should be covered up.

 

The tea may be drunk freely, but if taken in very large doses when warm, it frequently acts as an emetic.

 

It has proved efficacious in nervous headaches and as an emmenagogue, though for the latter purpose, it is preferable to use Catnep, not as a warm tea, but to express the juice of the green herb and take it in tablespoonful doses, three times a day.

I use equal parts catnip, St Johnwort, and a little peppermint to make a relaxing tea for relaxing in the evening.

[westbrook]

you can smoke it too!

 

 

well, someone had to say it!

[Mother]

Oh great, Westy's on a binge with catnep

[westbrook]

I don't smoke.. but sometimes it is easier on the stomach if you smoke it rather then ingest it. No catnip brownies for me!

 

I don't have cats either.. I have dogs. Ahhhhh Chew!

[Mother]

Yeah BIG dogs

[Cat]

 

 

Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

 

 

 

 

 

**Cat rubs up against her friend Westie, who smells of fresh catnip...**

 

 

 

[Mother]

Those are adorable Cat, only you would come up with them.