Catnip: Neneta cataria

Plant Family: Lamiaceae

Habitat & Ecological role:

Native to Europe, the Middle East, central Asia, and parts of China.

Catnip has widely naturalized in North America. Catnip is a pollinator plant when grown in gardens or as an escaped garden plant. It is also a beneficial plant to partner with heavily targeted plants by insects as its volatile oils act as a natural insect repellent.

Herbal Actions: Nervine relaxant, mild nervine analgesic, carminative, diaphoretic, anticatarral, astringent, antispasmodic, associated with increased dreaming.

Parts used: Leaves and flowers (aerial parts in leaf or flower).

Forms: Infusion, tincture, glycerite, hydrosol.

Season: Summer

Taste/ Smell: Aromatic, astringent, pungent, slightly bitter.

Energetic Qualities: Cooling, drying, heavy, dense, slow.

Indications: Nervous tension, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, indigestion, digestive stress, lack of dreams, muscle tension, restless legs, muscle spasms, cough, respiratory infections, fever. Excellent herb for children with nervousness, irritability, stomach ache, or URI.

Body system affinities: Nervous, digestive, respiratory, muscular-skeletal.

Key Points: Catnip is a gentle, effective nervine for any hyperactive nervous system imbalance ranging from irritability to restless legs. This is an excellent plant for those in sympathetic dominance with a lot of mobile/hot/light qualities. Catnip is easy to grow and easy to dry for use throughout the year as an infusion, and can also be made into a delicious glycerite for children.