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Catnip: useful properties and contraindications. Video
Catnip is a genus of herbaceous plants found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This herb has found widespread use in cooking and, moreover, has many pharmacological properties. It is often confused with lemon balm, but in fact, there are more differences between them than similarities.
Characteristics of “catnip”
The catnip (lat. Nepeta cataria), also popularly known as “catnip”, is a perennial medicinal herb of the family of lacustrine plants. The catnip got its unusual name due to the essential oil contained in it, which has a lemon scent and attracts cats like valerian. The European-Central Asian species of catnip is found almost everywhere on the continent: in Central and Southern Europe, in the Caucasus, in Western and Central Asia, in India, Pakistan and Nepal in the subtropical zone. In Russia, this plant is widespread throughout the European part of the country, as well as in the south of Western Siberia and the Far East.
The catnip has a branched root system, a high (up to a meter) fluffy stem, triangular-heart-shaped leaves and purple or lilac semi-umbilical flowers, collected in a brush. The flowering period is June-July.
The entire aerial part of the plant is used for food. To dry, the catnip must be harvested during the flowering period, that is, from June to August. The stems should be cut at a height of ten centimeters. Dry in the air under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area. You can store a dried catnip for two years.
Mown in summer, during flowering, the plant blooms again in late summer – early autumn
In addition to essential oil, catnip contains tannins, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cardiac glycosides, saponins. The essential oil contains carvaclol, which has a powerful antibacterial effect. An organic compound called pulegon is responsible for the mint-like scent.
Useful properties and use cases
The list of medicinal properties of catnip is really huge. Catnip has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, antitussive and tonic properties. It helps fight phlegm and nasal congestion by thinning thick secretions. The use of decoctions and herbal infusions helps to increase appetite, improve digestion, normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract; such tinctures are especially indicated for those suffering from hypoacid gastritis. But that’s not all – clinical experiments have confirmed the effectiveness of the use of catnip in cardiac neuroses. Found its ability to increase the amplitude of heart contractions up to 40 percent. And here it should be noted that since this plant accelerates the heart rate, it is contraindicated in tachycardia.
Catnip is often added to herbal antidepressants. The plant is also used for external use. Catnip-based ointments are used to treat boils, skin inflammations, and tumors. You can rinse your hair with broths to strengthen them.
When it comes to cooking, catnip is a great spice. With its taste and aroma, it resembles lemon balm. But, unlike lemon balm, it retains a rich aroma even after drying. Its leaves and young shoots are used both fresh and dried, and added to main courses (especially fish), spicy-sweet sauces, drinks and sweets. For herbal teas, it is good to combine catnip with mint and rose petals. You can also use catnip for pickling and pickling. To flavor regular tea, just put a couple of leaves in the cup. But to brew catnip in its pure form is best looking at night. The plant has a powerful sedative effect, therefore it is advisable to use teas, decoctions and infusions with it before bedtime. The cattleman is very effective in combating anxiety and insomnia.
Catnip essential oil, valued for its rich herbaceous citrus scent, has found application in the perfumery and soap making industries. A few drops of this oil can be added to the bath before bed.
Catnip is a valuable melliferous plant, therefore beekeepers love to cultivate it.
Despite the fact that catnip grows like a weed, it is highly regarded by landscape designers. Firstly, this perennial plant is unpretentious and not demanding on the soil, it is easy to care for it. Secondly, it blooms with exquisite purple inflorescences and, being a melliferous flower, attracts many butterflies. Low-growing varieties are planted on alpine slides or in pots. Living borders are created from high ones. Cattlemen love dry and sunny places, and it is not at all necessary to water them (stagnant water can even be destructive for them). All these picky colors require is cropping. Finally, catnip is immune to powdery mildew and slugs. By planting a catnip on your garden plot, you will kill two birds with one stone: decorate your garden and get a harvest of a unique medicinal plant.