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Catswort | | Name : | Catswort | | Synonyms : | Catmint
Catnep
Catrup
Catswort
Chi-hsueh-ts'ao
Fieldbalm
Nep
| | Parts Used : | Leaves, fresh or dried | | Habitat : | Found in disturbed habitats throughout much of North America. Nativeto Europe. Common inhabitant of hedges and waste places. | | Description : | Catnip is a perennial herb of the mint family. Its erect, square,branching stem is hairy and grows from 3-5 feet high. The oblong orcordate, pointed leaves have scalloped edges and gray or whitish hairson the lower side. The bilabiate flowers are white with purple spotsand grow in spikes; these are small and hooded, and grow in crowdedwhorls from June to September. The plant has a pleasant, aromaticodor. | | Constituents : | Acetic acid, biotin, buteric acid, choline, citral, dipentene, inositol,lifronella, limonene, manganese, nepetalic acid, volatile oils, PABA,phosphorus, sodium, sulfur, valeric acid, and vitamins A, B1, B2,B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12.
Anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac (for cats), aromatic, carminative,diaphoretic, nervine, emmenagogue, sedative (for humans), stimulant,tonic | | Uses : | Catnip is one of the oldest household remedies.
Controls fever (catnip enemasreduce fever quickly). Good for colic,colds, flu,inflammation,pain, chickenpox,leaves chewed to relieve toothache,and convulsions. Stimulatesthe appetite. Aids digestionand sleep. Relieves stress,promotes sweating, relieves painfulmenstruation, used to promote menstruation. Popular uses in Europeare for chronic bronchitisand for diarrhea.
A tbsp. steeped in a pint of water and used as an enema is soothingand quieting, especially in children, and very effective in convulsions,and for expelling worms in children.Leaves bruised and applied to hemorrhoidseases the pain. | | Dosage : | Never boil catnip.
Infusion: use 1 tsp. herb with 1 cup boiling water. Steeponly; do not allow to boil. Take 1-2 cups a day.
Tincture: take 1/2 to 1 tsp. at a time. | | Myths : | Good-tasting aromatic tea. Old country favorite in England even beforeoriental tea was introduced there. High in vitamin C. Stimulates theappetite if served cold before meals; aids digestion if served hotafter meals. Hot tea also makes a soothing nightcap.
Catnip has been used since Biblical times as a tea; it has a calmingeffect on humans. It's extremely exciting and attractive to cats,who are apt to romp in and tear up the plants, which does not effecttheir health.
From an English herbalist comes the sobering advice that the rootof catnip 'when chewed is said to make the most gentle person fierceand quarrelsome, and there is a legend of a certain hangman who couldnever screw up his courage to the point of hanging anybody till hehad partaken of it'.
In Colonial times, catnip tea was much used as a substitute for hard-to-getchamomile flowers. Catnip grew like weeds wherever the pioneers lived.Like chamomile, the warm tea was used for infants and children tosoothe their stomach (simple colic) and help them sleep. Catnip teais still very popular among folks living in isolated communities inthe Cumberland Mountains, Kentucky and the Ozarks.
Rats are said to be repelled by catnip; so it might be a suitableprotective plant around grain crops. In fact, The Herbalist Almanactells of catnip growing around buildings of old farms because of anold belief that the odor of this plant drove off rats. The plantswere set as a barricade around the buildings.
One beekeeper is sold on catnip; claims catnip yields considerablehoney. If there is any plant that should be cultivated specially forhoney it should be catnip he declares. | | Nutrient : | Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12 and C. | | Sold : | Capsules: take 1 to 3 daily.
Extract: mix 1/2 to 1 tsp. in 1/2 cup warm water and drinkas a tea. |
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