Catnip, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we will consider in this article, is a perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family. It is often also called cat grass, mint, booze, field balm, as well as matoshnik, cat grass, sore grass and fragrant horehound. Let's take a closer look at this plant: what it is, what its healing properties are and how to use it correctly.
Description
In appearance, this herb resembles mint. It reaches from forty to one hundred centimeters in length, has branched tetrahedral stems and sharp, oblong, pubescent, ovate-heart-shaped leaves.
Small flowers are painted white or lilac-bluish and are collected in inflorescences, the diameter of which varies from one and a half to two and a half centimeters, and in length - from 3.5 to 8 centimeters. The brown fruits have the shape of a nut - an ellipse.
Catnip, a photo of which you can see in our article, blooms in mid-summer, and the fruits ripen starting in the second half. The aroma of the plant is pungent and very pleasant. The smell that catnip produces is lemony. Its healing properties extend not only to animals (as you can guess from the name), but also to people.
Use in official medicine
Medicines from catnip have a diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and tonic effect. They are able to relieve pain and fever, calm, stop bleeding and regulate menstruation.
They are prescribed to increase appetite and improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Lemon catnip is also prescribed to stimulate digestion. The medicinal properties of the herb make it possible to use preparations from it to eliminate seizures.
When used externally, the drugs play the role of a natural antibiotic. They treat furunculosis, tumor formations, pustules and inflammation on the skin. Medicines from Siberian catnip are used to rinse the larynx for tumors. They are used as prophylactic agents for lead poisoning.
Where does it grow?
The plant can be found in the western and eastern parts of Europe, Asia, western Siberia and the Caucasus. In Canada and the United States it is specially cultivated. In the wild, catnip grows as a shrub and is found in forests, fields and meadows, river banks and near roads.
By the way, in the Middle Ages, very few flowers of different varieties were grown, but catnip was sure to be found among them. Its medicinal properties were already widely used back then and, in addition, it was added to culinary dishes.
Area
The homeland of the catnip is vast. Its thickets have colonized almost all of Eurasia, without affecting only its Arctic zones. It thrives in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Siberia and the Caucasus. He is fond of the lands of the Far East and the expanses of Africa.
From its native lands, catnip migrated to the vast expanses of North America and Japan. It is cultivated in Western Europe and the USA. The plant is cultivated as an aromatic spice in Moldova.
The medicinal plant lemon catnip prefers to grow in forests, meadows and fields. It is found in bushes, littered areas, roadsides and dry mountain slopes. As a weed, catnip takes over vegetable gardens and orchards.
Collection and preparation
The above-ground part of the plant, that is, the stem, leaves and flowers, is used as medicine. They are collected during flowering. For this purpose, the plant is cut about ten centimeters from the ground. The herb is dried in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air.
Dry catnip takes on a greenish-grayish color. In this form it can be stored for two years. After harvesting, the stem grows quickly and blooms again within a month. The largest harvest is produced by catnip in the third year of life. It contains essential oil that gives a pleasant lemon scent. It also contains tannins and bitter substances, saponins, vitamin C and glycosides.
Features
Do you know that most of the lemon balm sold, and as a result grown in gardens, is nothing more than catnip? And indeed it is. The plant looks very similar to lemon balm. But it is not difficult to distinguish one from the other.
You need to take the grass in your hands and grind it. If it is catnip, the smell will become unpleasant, but real lemon balm will retain its aroma. In addition, the dry grass of the plant in question slightly resembles the smell of cat urine. And another visual difference is that catnip fruits have two white dots. But this is not observed in lemon balm.
Beneficial features
As a medicinal herb, catnip is used for a variety of purposes. So, it has the following effect:
- bactericidal;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipyretic;
- painkillers;
- calming;
- sweatshop;
- antispasmodic;
- general strengthening;
- choleretic;
- anthelmintic;
- restoring the menstrual cycle.
The herb catnip, the medicinal properties of which we are considering, perfectly improves appetite, the digestive process, and normalizes intestinal function. Its use helps increase heart contractions and eliminate cramps. It will perfectly help with coughs, gastrointestinal diseases, bronchitis, migraines, hysteria, shortness of breath, anemia, jaundice and other diseases.
In addition to internal use, the plant can also be used externally. This is relevant for inflammatory skin processes, scabies, furunculosis, acne and eczema. Catnip essential oil will be effective in case of lead poisoning – it can improve the patient’s condition. The product also has a high antimicrobial effect. Decoctions and tinctures are usually made from it.
Useful properties of catnip
- Lemon catnip has antipyretic, antibacterial, diaphoretic and expectorant properties.
- Due to the presence of active biological substances, the plant strengthens the immune system, increases body tone, and reduces the impact of harmful substances on the human body.
- The herb is a strong antiseptic, which is successfully used in the treatment of ulcers, boils, and abscesses.
- It is used to combat constipation, congestion in the gallbladder and biliary tract.
- Healing preparations based on it help in the treatment of gastritis, increased stomach acidity and are used as appetite stimulants.
- Decoctions and infusions have a positive effect on the human respiratory system. They are used for bronchitis, dry cough and during the treatment of colds that cause complications in the throat.
- These medications also help cope with nervous disorders, hysteria and depression.
- Catnip accelerates the heart rate and increases the amplitude of contractions of the heart muscle.
- It is also worth mentioning that the plant is an excellent honey plant, and it is specially bred next to apiaries.
- In cooking, the herb is used as a spice, which is added to marinades, sauces, compotes, jams and teas.
Recipes
Let's look at a few ways to use Hungarian catnip. The healing properties of this herb are especially noticeable for depression, hysteria and angina.
To do this, make the following infusion: add a tablespoon of dry crushed herb to 300 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse for an hour. Then take half a glass three times a day.
The same recipe is suitable for external use for skin diseases.
For gastrointestinal diseases or headaches, make the following infusion: a small spoon of herb is brewed in 200 ml of boiling water and infused. It is best to do this in a thermos and then strain. The product is taken one tablespoon three times a day.
A mixture of herbs is also very effective. For example, for skin diseases, take St. John's wort, blueberries, mint, laurel, goldenseal, Irish moss, blue verbena, sorrel, fenugreek, yellow gentian, starube root, ash and, of course, catnip in equal proportions. Three tablespoons are poured into 400 ml of boiling water and left for an hour. At first, drink the tincture from the mixture once a day, gradually increasing the consumption up to three times.
If a child has insomnia, then you can prepare a decoction for him from a mixture that includes the following herbs: valerian, chamomile, passionflower, catnip, Baikal skullcap. All components are taken in equal proportions, three tablespoons are brewed with two glasses of boiling water and kept on fire for five minutes, then left for an hour. Use the product three times a day, 100 ml, for half a month.
A tincture of the following herbs has an excellent pain-relieving effect: catnip, valerian and skullcap. They are taken in equal proportions. Then two tablespoons of the mixture are poured into two glasses of boiling water and left for a third of an hour.
Other uses of catnip
Internal use
• Catnip tea can help soothe menstrual cramps and relieve premenstrual tension (PMS). At the same time, it is a good emmenagogue, as it increases menstrual flow and stimulates the uterus. It can be useful if you need help regulating your menstrual cycle.
• Catnip is also useful after intense training, as it helps to relax the muscles.
• If you suffer from cystitis or bladder inflammation, catnip tea will also relieve pain.
• Catnip tea acts as a detoxifier, removing toxins from the body. Its antifungal, antibiotic and astringent properties protect the body from viruses and bacteria.
• Helps in the treatment of measles and chicken pox.
External use
• Cooled catnip tea can be used to wash and disinfect the skin. It helps restore skin, heal abrasions, burns, cuts and insect bites.
• Can be used as a rinse for irritated scalp and as a natural dandruff remedy.
• Strong catnip tea can be used as an eye wash for allergies and inflammation. Place a towel soaked in catnip infusion or brewed tea bags on swollen eyes; the procedure lasts 30 minutes.
Catnip for insects and animals
• Catnip can be successfully used to repel flies, mosquitoes, and midges.
• Catnip is often bred by beekeepers near their hives. The plant attracts bees and has a calming effect on them. Beekeepers rub the plant on their hands to prevent insects from being aggressive, and often on the walls of hives to lure bees to them.
• Cat Litter also works on cats - it contains nepetalactone, which is considered a cat's happy pheromone.
The plant makes the cat relax and unwind. However, this state lasts for a fairly short time - up to 10 minutes. Its effects are most often observed in cats of reproductive age; young kittens are resistant to cat infestation.
Use in veterinary medicine
In addition to its use for people, the plant also helps animals. Cats, inhaling its aroma, become peaceful, balanced, playful and playful. Therefore, it is especially useful to give a sprig of catnip to animals that are in stressful situations, for example, when moving or going to the veterinarian.
This effect applies not only to small cats, but also to all animals of the cat family. This has been known for a long time. Thus, the plant was used as bait for catching lynxes.
But on the contrary, catnip has a repellent effect on insects. Mosquitoes and even cockroaches are afraid of him. Therefore, essential oil is often added to insect repellents.
Application
Catnip is used in herbal medicine, landscape design, as a honey plant, and has a special effect on cats and flies.
In decorative floriculture, honey plant
Catnip is often used in landscape design:
- looks great in rock gardens;
- planted on the edges of lawns;
- in English-style gardens, its natural shape creates an idyllic atmosphere;
- ability to attract bees and butterflies, adds a pleasant aura to the garden;
- it should be planted on unused areas of land, for example, partially replacing the lawn in places that are difficult to mow;
- its ability to cover available surface also works on slopes where it is difficult to grow other plants.
In cooking
Young catnip shoots can be added to soups, sauces and fresh vegetable salads. Meat dishes are seasoned with dried, powdered herb leaves. Before the spread of black tea, a drink made from catnip leaves was widely consumed; they contain significant amounts of vitamin C.
Advice. Shoots and leaves intended for drying should be collected immediately after flowering, tied and hung in ventilated, shaded places.
Beneficial features
The aesthetic effect of catnip is not its only value. Catnip is a honey plant (150-200 kg of honey is collected from 1 hectare), so it is worth planting it near apiaries. Some species and hybrids are grown as ornamental plants.
Herbal medicine enthusiasts enjoy collecting flowers and drying them for use as raw materials for tea or tinctures.
Catnip has a number of useful properties:
- has a calming effect on the digestive system, especially in conditions of flatulence;
- thins sputum - catnip infusion is recommended for upper respiratory tract infections with cough and fever;
- diaphoretic and tonic.
To make medicinal tea, the leaves are poured with boiling water and brewed, but without cooking.
In gardening
Catnip extract is used as a natural, ecological remedy to combat aphids and repel mosquitoes, cockroaches, and termites. Growing this plant is also an effective defense against rats, which cannot tolerate its smell.
Other properties of the plant
Fragrant catnip, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we describe, promotes relaxation, normalization of emotions and mood, and balancing. This witchcraft effect of the plant, by the way, was known back in the Middle Ages.
Dried leaves from it were used as bookmarks for books on magic. Catnip was used for love spells. And before the date, the gypsies drank tea brewed on grass with the addition of honey.
The plant is used for a variety of purposes. With the right approach, it can be an excellent assistant in various situations. However, you should know that in some cases catnip has contraindications for use. Thus, the plant should not be used primarily by pregnant women and mothers during lactation. In addition, its use is extremely undesirable for children.
It remains to add that the information available today regarding what medicinal properties and contraindications catnip has is far from complete. Therefore, its use should be careful.
Contraindications
In addition to the beneficial and medicinal properties of catnip, there are some contraindications to taking decoctions and infusions from this herb:
- Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should not use medications based on this herb.
- They are also contraindicated for people with tachycardia, as the plant accelerates the heart rate.
- People prone to allergies should limit themselves to small doses of such medications to check the body's own reaction.
