Botanical Name: Nepeta Cataria | Family: Labiatae (Mint family)
Common name(s): Catnip, Nebada (Spanish)
GROWING
- Perennial; herbaceous | zones 3-7 | 15-24 inches tall | white, purple-spotted flowers on and off in the summer.
- Found in many environments. Full sun to shade, no special soil needs.
- Reseeds readily
Companion planting: french or red-veined sorrels, nasturtium, shiso, sage
HARVESTING
Collect aerial parts anytime during the growing season. Cut the plant back to 3-4 inches above ground. It will grow back within a couple of weeks, providing multiple harvests during a season.
PREPARATION / DOSAGE
Parts: Aerial parts, fresh or dried
Infusion: 1 cup boiling water onto 2 teaspoon dried herb. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3x/day.
Tincture: take 2 – 4ml of tincture 3x/day.
Baby dose: ¼ cup of weak tea in a bottle, add a pinch of sugar to sweeten if needed; or mix the tea with breast milk
MEDICAL
Constituents: Volatile oils including citronella, geraniol, and citral; bitter principal; tannins
Actions: carminative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, sedative, astringent
Uses: colic, teething, hyperactivity (safe plant for children); cold & flu / fever, bronchitis, stomach upset, dyspepsia, flatulence
Combinations: Combines well with Boneset, Elder, Yarrow or Cayenne for colds
CHINESE MEDICINE*
- Spicy, bitter, cool
- Lungs, liver, nerves
SOURCES
- Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman
- *The Way of Herbs, Michael Tierra
- Homegrown Herbs, Tammi Hartung
- http://www.aridlandhomestead.com/the-herb-cabinet-catnip/
- photo credit: fermicat via photopin cc
I planted catnip in my garden this year, but I don’t remember where and I can’t find it! Maybe this week, as I’ve taken a harvest vacation from my day job to work in the gardens and harvest all the food remaining, it’ll turn up. I’ll let you know….
