So, we all know how good cats find catnip, but did you know it was good for humans too? To know why, let’s take a look at where it comes from.
There is a slight relation between cannabis and catnip, being that they are both of the mint family, in fact, if you’ve ever smelled fresh catnip, you’ll agree. It is far enough away however in it’s family tree that I’ve seen those with mint allergies be able to ingest it. I grew up with this stuff growing on our family estate, and as I was fairly sheltered and didn’t really learn about weed till my early 20’s, it explained why it always smelled ‘stronger’ around the back pathway after the teens of the neighborhood had walked through. I recently brought some into work for someones cats, after an argument with someone who said there was no way it smelt like it, yet even after tying it up in two garbage bags I was still getting looks and questions, to which I replied ‘Told ya so!!’
An amuzing article from a study done back in 1988 points to “Nepeta cataria, is a chemical called nepetalactone that sets off in the cat’s brain the behavioral patterns usually connected with a variety of pleasurable or exciting things,” and that it’s the smell not the ingestion that triggers it, according to research by Dr. Benjamin L. Hart. The eating of catnip by a cat is thought to be an effort to bruise the catnip leaves to release more of the nepetalactone.
Now while catnip does not effect humans the same way, as in we do NOT get high from it, it does have other beneficial properties.
Herbapathy.com lists catnip as Most Effective against non other then MOSQUITO BITES – That’s right, that plant that grows like a weed, something man tries to control, another one of nature’s wonders, and it’s reach out to HELP US!
That’s just the tip of the ice-berg!
For Cures, it’s considered Highly Effective against Anemia, Convalescence and Fever.
Effective against – Abdominal disorders, Acne, ADHD, Allergy, Anhidrosis, Anorexia, Anxiety, Arthritis, Ascaris, Bipolar Disorders, Bleeding Externally, Bloating, Bone Pain, Bronchitis, Bruises, Chicken Pox, Cold, Colic, Constipation, Convulsions, Cough, Cramps, Cuts, Dandruff, Depression, Diarrhea, Difficult Menses, Digestive Disorders, Diphtheria, Early Satiety, Eye Diseases, Eyes Bloodshot, Flatulence, Flu, Gastrointestines, Hay Fever, Headache, Hoarseness, Hysteria, Indigestion, Insanity, Insect Bites, Insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Keshan Disease, Measles, Menses Scanty, Migraine, Morning Sickness, Motion Sickness, Multiple Scloerosis, Muscle Cramps, Muscle Spasm, Muscle Sprains, Nausea, Nervous Disorders, Pain, Panophthalmitis, Piles, Pneumonia, Premenstrual Syndrome, Repeated Miscarriages, Respiratory Diseases, Restlessness, Rheumatism, Scarlet Fever, Sinusitis, Small Pox, Sore Throat, Stomach Ache, Stress, Swelling, Swine Flu, Tachycardia, Teething Problems, Toothache, Urine Retention, Urticaria, Water Retention and Wounds.
I’ve personally and successfully used it against items in bold in above list.
But WHY Sarah!? How does this ‘Weed’ have so many benefits for us?
The active ingredient list for this plant explains far better then I.
Acetic Acid, Alpha Humulene, Alpha Nepetalactone, Beta Elemene, Beta Nepetalactone, Butyric Acid, Calcium, Camphor, Carvacrol, Caryophyllene, Chromium, Citral, Citral Nepetalactone, Citronellal, Cintronellol, Dipentene, Essential Oil, Geraniol, Iridoids, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Myrcene, Nepetalic Acid, Nerol, Phosphorus, Pipertone, Potassium, Pulegone, Rosmarinic acid, Selenium, Silicon, Tannins, Terpenoids, Thymol, Valeric Acid, Vitamin A(Or Retinol), Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and Zinc.
As you read that list, did you notice it looked a lot like shelf of bottles in a Natural Health Foods store? If you’ve done any research in this topic, you’ll see the common result of too much of this stuff makes you sick. The reason people get sick after too much of this plant is it’s an active medicinal plant, and as your body has an easier time recognizing elements that will help it in natural form then in pill, you must keep this in mind when ingesting. It took me a bit to get the tea dosage right, but if you always remember that too much of a good thing = not good at all and start with 1 leaf, 3 if dried, (yes I know it sounds small, but this stuff is strong!!) and slowly increase dosage to test effectiveness, you will know what is just right for you.
Note that each one of the ailments and ingredients listed above can be further researched here, if you click on an ailment it will provide you with a list of potential cures:
https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Catnip-Cid276
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