Catnip- Nepeta cataria

Actions:

Anodyne, Antibiotic (weak), Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac (cats), Aromatic, Astringent, CARMINATIVE, DIAPHORETIC (without warming/heating body), DIGESTIVE, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, NERVINE, Refrigerant, SEDATIVE (when served warm), Stimulant (when served cold), Stomachic, Tonic, Tranquilizer

Possible hallucinogen when smoked, though there has been some debate over this issue. A Feb. 17, 1969 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) stated that it was, like marijuana, a hallucinogen. Pictures of a plant labeled as catnip accompanied the article, however the pictures were actually of marijuana. At this point it was decided that someone couldn't tell the difference between catnip and marijuana, so catnip was taken off the hallucinogenic list. Yet again in 1976 an article apeared in JAMA about the hallucinogenic effects of catnip.

Uses:	External:	Cramps (general, menstrual, muscle), Pain (swellings), Swellings (general, painful)
		Compress:	Cramps (general, menstrual, muscle), Eyes (bloodshot, inflammation, pressure, problems [due to alcohol {excess}, allergies, cold, flu], strain, swelling), Headaches (general, nervous, stress, tension), Hemorrhoids, Pain (bee stings, cramps, headaches, menstrual)

	Leaves:	Chewed: Toothaches

	With equal parts Saffron:	Colds, Scarlet fever, Small pox

	With lavender:	Babies: Colic, Teething

	With fennel:	Brandy tinctured for 1 week: Indigestion

	Beverage:	Refreshing summer drink when served cold.

	Pets:	"Kitty drugs," give dried or fresh, loose or contained to cats for their amusement and yours. It's purrfectly safe for them to eat, helps get the need to eat plants out of their system and it helps those little butterballs get their exercise for the year. ^_^ Just make sure to keep your stash out of their reach or else you'll have a mess and some VERY wild kitties! Note: Some DOGS like it, too.

	Contains:	Vit. A, Vit. B-complex, Vit. C, Maganese, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Sulphur (very small amounts).
		Nepetalactone:	Sedative (mild), possible herbicide and insect-repellant.

Acidity, Anemia, Anodyne, Antibiotic (weak), Antispasmodic, ANXIETY, Aphrodisiac (cats), Aromatic, Astringent, Bee stings, Birth (prevents premature), Bloating, Bronchitis (general, chronic), Bruises, CARMINATIVE, Chicken pox, Circulation (improves), COLDS (preventing, treating), COLIC (general, infant), Colitis, Congestion (lungs), CONVULSIONS, Coughs (antispasmodic), CRAMPS (general, menstrual, muscle), Cuts, Depression, DIAPHORETIC (without warming/heating body), DIARRHEA, Digestion (aids, general, indigestion), DIGESTIVE, Diseases (childhood), Diuretic, Dizziness, Drugs (withdrawal), Emmenagogue, Eyes (bloodshot, inflammation, pressure, problems [due to alcohol {excess}, allergies, cold, flu], strain, swelling), Fatigue, FEVERS (general, scarlet), Flatulence, FLU (aches, diarrhea, general), GAS, Hayfever, Headaches (general, nervous, stress, tension), Hemorrhoids, Hiccoughs, Hiccups, Hysteria, Indigestion, Infertility, INFLUENZA, Insanity, Insomnia, Joints (pain), Lungs (congestion), Menstrual cramps, Menstruation (irregular, late, painful), Miscarriages (prevents), Morning sickness, Mumps, Nausea, NERVES, NERVINE, Nervous disorders, Nervousness, Nicotine withdrawal, Pain (bee stings, cramps, general, gums, headaches, joints, menstrual, swellings, teething, toothaches), Premature birth (prevents), Refrigerant, Restlessness, Scarlet fever, Scrapes, Scratches, SEDATIVE (when served warm), Shock, Skin, Sleeplessness, Small pox, Soreness (gums, joints, teething), Sores (external), Spasms, Stimulant (when served cold), Stomach (ache, acid, gas, upset), Stomachic, Stress, Swelling (general, painful), Teething (pain), Tonic, Toothache, Tranquilizer, Urine (retention), Vomiting, Withdrawal (drug, nicotine), Worms, Wounds (minor)

Notes:	Garden catnip:	Catnip can be quite a trial to grow, especially when you either own cats or live in an area where there are cats roaming at large. Most who have tried to grow catnip have often brought the plants home from the store and planted them with the utmost care in their garden, only to find the next day that there was nothing left of the "kitty salad bar". Who told them it was "all-you-can-eat"?!? Transplanted catnip, like most transplanted plants, wilts a little, even if well-watered, after being placed in its new home. When it wilts, it lets off its pungent aroma, thus, unfortunately, alerting felines to it's presence. You can protect it by making and placing a little cage around it for the first few days -or- you can grow it from seed! Catnip grown directly from seed won't have the "transplant wilts" and so won't let off its aroma as strongly. Thus you're less likely to find you have to re-stock as often (or even at all!). Cats will still scent it when the leaves are bruised or cut, but I haven't lost a bruised or cut plant to cats yet! In the garden, catnip is said to repell harmful insects but attract bees. The bee part seems to be quite true. As for the harmful insects, I can't say whether it was the catnip or the 200+ spiders in my 10'x15' garden that kept all but the aphids away. ^_^
	Rats:	It is rumored that rats and some other rodents hate catnip.
	Root Rumor:	I have run across several references to an old belief that chewing catnip root will make even the most kind and gentle of people angry and quarrelsome! There is a tale of an executioner who could not bring himself to kill anyone without first chewing or eating catnip root.

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