CATMINT

Nepeta cataria Catnip

ORIGIN OF PLANT / HABITAT Native to Asia & Europe occurring in a wide variety of habitats in al but the tropical regions of the northern hemisphere. Its name refers to its stimulant effect on cats, which eat & roll in the plant with obvious pleasure. The constituent responsible for this effect is thought to be actinidine, an iridoid glycoside, similar to that found in Valerian. The hybrid Nepeta x faassenii, also commonly called catmint, is a popular ornamental but has less effect on some cats & no medicinal properties. GROWTH Pungent, hairy, herbaceous perennial with erect branched stems. LEAF SHAPE Grey-green ovate, toothed leaves, up to 7cm long. FLOWERS White, purple spotted, tubular flowers are borne on whorls in summer. SEED / FRUIT Small, rich brown, oval, flattish with a white fleck on one end. AROMA Camphoraceous, pennyroyal-thyme aroma. PARTS USED Whole plant, leaves. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS ACTIONS Bitter, astringent, cooling herb. Lowers fevers, relaxes spasms, increases perspiration, and has a carminative & sedative effect.

MEDICINAL
Internally Feverish illnesses (especially flu & colds), insomnia, excitability, palpitations, nervous indigestion, diarrhoea, stomach upset, colic, digestion related headaches, menstrual pain May be combined with yarrow & elder for feverish stages of colds & flu, and Externally Haemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism, minor cuts, abrasions, bruising, varicose veins, scalp irritations

CULINARY
Leaves are infused for tea. Added to salads, sauces, stews. Leaves can be rubbed onto meat before cooking.

COSMETIC
Infusion in the bath will relieve itchy skin. Used as a hair rinse, soothes scalp conditions & promotes growth.. A good conditioning final rinse for dark hair: 2 tbsp each of catmint & rosemary simmered for 10 minutes in 470ml water, steep for 2 hours. Strain & add 120ml cider vinegar.

HOME
Dried catmint used to stuff toys for cats. Will attract bees & butterflies to the garden. The smell repels rats & it makes a superb insect repelling spray.

HISTORICAL
The name Nepeta may be derived from the Roman town Nepeti, where catmint was cultivated & it was more highly valued than today. Its mildly hallucinogenic leaves were smoked to relieve the pressures of life.

FOLKLORE/MYTHICAL
POWERS: Cat magic, love, beauty, happiness. MAGICKAL USES: Given to your cat, it creates a psychic bond between you & the cat. Used in love sachets, usually in conjunction with rose petals. Grown near the home or hung over the door, it attracts good spirits & great luck. Catnip leaves are pressed and used as bookmarks in magical texts.

INFO REF: Van Wyk, B.; Van Oudtshoorn, B. & Gericke, N. 2000. Medicinal Plants of South Africa. Cunningham, S. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL HERBS. Llewellyn Publications, 2002.

McVicar, J. JEKKAS COMPLETE HERB BOOK. Kyle Cathie Limited, 1999. Brown, D. THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS & THEIR USES. Dorling Kindersley, 2002. Roberts, M. A Z OF HERBS. Struik Publishers, 2000. Bremness, L. POCKET ENCYCLOPEDIA HERBS. D K Publishers, 1990.

SPECIMEN COLLECTED My garden PE DATE 10/2003