Catnip, More Than Just For Cats?of Course!

Catnip is the common name for a perennial herb of the mint family. Catnip is native to Europe and is imported into the United States. In North America it is a common and widespread weed.

Catnip, is the common name for a perennial herb of the mint family. Catnip is native to Europe and is imported into the United States. Catnip is most popular with cats and the reaction that it causes in them when they receive some dried nip from their owner.

They roll around in it in all of their glory. The fact is that humans do not smell what cats smell when it comes to catnip so humans do not react the same way that cats do.

It is known that the chemical nepetalactone in catnip is the thing that triggers the response. Apparently, it somehow kicks off a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical. Catnip contains volatile oils, sterols, acids, and tannins.

Catnip has been used for ornamental and culinary purposes and as a domestic folk-medicine remedy. Catnip, in combination with Eugenia caryophyllata, and Sassafras bidum, has been used as poultice for aching teeth in the American Ozark Mountains. Catnip is known in scientific nomenclature as "Nepeta cataria".

Catnip buds are the most potent form of catnip, next to the essential oil itself. Catnip prefers to grow in dry, semi arid places, and can be found along hedge rows and fence lines. Catnip is a perennial herb found growing wild throughout North America and Europe where it is thought to have originated.

Catnip has a long history of use in alternative medicine, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. One cannot observe catnip's remarkable and sudden, if transient, effect on cat behavior without suspecting that something chemical is afoot.

As for catnip use in humans several ailments are treated with the use of catnip, including the treatment of colic, headache, colds, and spasms, as well as antibacterial properties that it also has. Many English cooks also seasoned meats with this herb, during the 15th century the herb was also used in salads for a pinch of seasoning.

In many areas catnip is the preferred tea over Chinese tea. It induces sleep in many people but does just the opposite in others. It can also be used as a very effective roach repellant.

Catnip plants enjoy sun and are drought-tolerant, making them good candidates for sunny, dry areas where many other flowers would struggle. Catnip plants are not just for cats: like so many herbs, they also have culinary and medicinal uses, whether used fresh or dried. .

When harvesting catnip for cats, all parts of the plant are utilized. Although catnip is best known for its intoxicating influence on cats, humans also make use of its biological properties. Very young and senior cats do not respond as much, or at all, to catnip. Other cats appear to become very sedate after exposure.

Women who are breastfeeding should not use catnip to avoid possibly passing it to the infant in breast milk. Older children should be watched carefully for signs of side effects if they take catnip by mouth. When applied to the skin, catnip may cause allergic reactions--especially for individuals who are sensitive to it or to other plants in the mint family.