If you live with a cat friend, you may be familiar with catnip or catmint(Nepeta cataria). For felines, it appears to mimic sex hormones, which causes them to enter a euphoric state of mind for a short time. This herb also benefits humans. Though it doesn’t affect us in the same way it does cats, its use has rich traditions. Many Native American tribes such as the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Okanagan-Colville used the leaves to make medicinal tea. Drinking this tea was regarded as helpful for conditions like diarrhea, asthma, colds, cough, bronchitis, etc.
Today, research on catnip use in humans is limited. It appears to be anti-inflammatory and may be helpful with pain. It is also antimicrobial and has strong activity against microbes like E. coli, S. aureus, and Candida albicans. Meaning it may help with various infections, including skin and yeast infections. It also has a mild relaxing effect on humans, and it may be helpful with hormone balance in women. Catnip is carminative as well; this means it may help reduce gas and bloating. More research is needed to determine the best uses for catnip.
Catnip is an easy-to-grow herb you could plant right in your backyard. It is in tinctures, capsules, and teas and can be bought at natural health food stores. As a tea, it has a mild earthy but minty, citrus-like flavor. Catnip is considered safe and well-tolerated by most people. If you take medications consult with your doctor before adding catnip, as it can interact with certain classes of medications.
Resources:
Ibrahim, Zen, et al. 2022. “Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.): Recent Advances in Pharmacognosy, Cultivation, Chemical Composition and Biological Activity.” Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics; 12: 254-263. 10.22270/jddt.v12i4-S.5559.
S., Satish & Shabaraya, A.. 2019. “A REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVTIES OF ESSENTIAL OIL IN NEPETA CATARIA.” International Journal of Pharma And Chemical Research; 5(2).