Catnip, from the Latin name Nepeta cataria, is an herb widely known for its effect on cats. Cats love to play in catnip, roll in it, chew on it and eat it. While it leaves cats in a temporary euphoric state of mind, it does not have the same effect on people.
Catnip is known commonly by the names of catmint, cat’s-wort, field balm and catrup. It is a relative to the mint family and has a mild taste. The leaves and flowers of the catnip plant are steeped in water to create a tea.
Catnip tea can be made by anyone growing the plant in their herb garden. The tea can be found in nutrition stores already packaged in tea bags, or it can be ordered online through a reputable company. If this tea cannot be found in a local nutrition store, the owner of the store will sometimes order it.
Catnip tea should never be boiled, only steeped, and a small amount of honey added to make it more palatable. It is not popular for being a household remedy, but would make a great addition to any household.
Any mother would be grateful to have catnip tea on hand with a colicky baby. The tea can be given to an infant in a warm bottle. Catnip aids in relaxing the digestive system. Once the tea has been drank and is being absorbed by the baby, the baby’s digestive system should relax, eliminating the gas pains that cause colic. Catnip tea is also very useful for painful circumstances such as spasms, gas pains, or hyperacidity in the stomach. It helps aid in painful teething situations with babies and toddlers, and will help restore menstruation in women.
Catnip tea is great for settling stomach viruses and is known for lowering fevers. It has been found useful in alleviating headaches and eliminating toxins from the human body. Catnip tea not only has calming effects on the digestive system, but it has a calming effect on the human mind. It has been used to treat systems of anxiety.
While catnip is relatively safe and has no known effects on other medications, it is wise to contact a physician before using. Catnip can be found in the form of capsules, teas, and tinctures. It should have the same effect on a person regardless of the method used.
While catnip eventually has the same effect regardless of the method used, taking capsules will have a slower effect because the body digests the capsule before it releases the catnip inside. Liquids, such as teas and tinctures, enter the bloodstream immediately when digested, having a much quicker desired effect.