Catnip (catnip)

Catnip is a spicy herb known for its intoxicating effect on felines and hence its name. This plant also has medicinal properties and is used to flavor food and cosmetic products. In other languages, the name of this herb sounds like this:

• German - Echte Katzenminze;
• English - nepeta cataria, catnip, catswort, catmint;
• French - Chataire.

Catnip is a low herbaceous plant with a straight, hard stem. The leaves are triangular in shape with a serrated edge and are covered with down. The inflorescences are small, pale lilac or purple, collected in long brushes. Fruits - small, brown grains - appear in the middle or early summer.

Catnip is common in many countries of the world. This plant grows in large numbers in Europe and Asia. It can also be found in countries with a subtropical climate - Pakistan, India and Nepal. Catnip grows almost throughout the entire territory of our country, including in the mountains of the Caucasus, Siberia and Primorye. This grass prefers to settle in open places - fields, forest edges, hillsides, along roads and fences.

Collecting catnip can be done twice a year - in mid-summer and early autumn.To get a double "harvest", the first time the plant is cut during flowering, and then after one and a half to two months it blooms again. The stems are cut with sharp garden shears at a distance of 9-11 cm from the ground. Then they are laid out in the attic, on the veranda or in any other room accessible to fresh air. You can dry the grass on the street, but for this you will have to take care of the canopy. Dried catnip can be stored for up to 2 years - all this time it retains its beneficial properties.

• dark green color;
• intense lemon aroma;
• spicy, bitter taste.

• essential oil;
• fatty oil;
• vitamin C;
• tannins;
• bitter substances;
• glycosides;
• saponins.

You can find out more information about catnip from the program "1000 and one spice of Scheherazade"

• has a general strengthening effect;
• produces an anesthetic effect;
• removes mucus;
• relieves inflammation;
• calms the nervous system;
• stimulates appetite;
• regulates the work of the digestive tract;
• accelerates the heart rate;
• has a choleretic effect;
• is a good antimicrobial agent.

Contrary to popular belief, this plant is completely safe for felines. People, on the contrary, should be careful with this herb. Eating this plant is contraindicated in:

• tachycardia;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding;
• the presence of individual intolerance.

Catnip contains an essential oil that contains a high percentage of a chemical called nepetalactone, which causes such a strong reaction in cats.In industry, catnip essential oil is used to flavor confectionery products, it is also included in various perfume compositions.

Infusion of catnip is used as an aid in the fight against various types of ailments, which we will discuss in more detail below. Its recipe is very simple.

Take 1 tbsp. chopped dried herbs and pour 300 ml of boiling water. Cover with a lid and insist for 2 hours. Then cool and strain. Drink 1 tbsp. 3-4 times a day, half an hour before meals.

Alcohol tincture of catnip is sold in pharmacies as a broad-spectrum drug. Among other things, this drug fights fungal infections and helps to normalize the menstrual cycle. To achieve the best result, the tincture should be taken for a long time, for 5-10 weeks, 1 tbsp. 3 times a day before meals.

Medicines based on catnip are successfully used to treat and eliminate the symptoms of the following diseases:

• anemia;
• cholera;
• the presence of helminths in the body;
• hysterical disorders;
• headache;
• depression;
• diseases of the respiratory system;
• loss of appetite;
• cardiovascular neurosis;
• purulent inflammation on the skin;
• sore throat.

• To get rid of insomnia, prepare herbal collection: take one part of catnip, valerian root, hop cones, chamomile flowers, Baikal skullcap and passion flower. Grind the herbs, and pour half a glass of the mixture with 0.5 liters of water. Bring to a boil and cook for 4-6 minutes over high heat. Steep for an hour, then strain.Every time after eating, drink half a glass of decoction. The duration of the course is from 15 to 20 days.
• To relieve muscle pain, prepare a healing herbal tea. For this, 1 tbsp. put a mixture of crushed catnip and Baikal skullcap in a teapot and pour boiling water over it. Steep for 20-25 minutes, then drink throughout the day. If desired, tea can be diluted with water.

• catnip is used in the production of sweets as a lemon flavor;
• fresh leaves of the plant are used for salting fish;
• the leaves of this spicy herb are placed in jars with canned food and marinades;
• catnip is added to sweet-spicy sauces and dressings;
• this plant is used in the production of some varieties of cheese;
• in Tatar cuisine, catnip is a frequent component of vegetable salads;
• with the addition of this spice, a healthy and fragrant herbal tea is prepared.

• Catnip is successfully used in beekeeping. It is specially planted next to apiaries. The presence of pollen from this plant gives honey a unique, lemon-fresh taste and aroma.
• This herb has a very strong effect on the cat's nervous system, dulls the sense of fear and danger. This property of the plant is very useful when you need to make any manipulations with the animal, for example, trim the claws or conduct a veterinary examination.

Catnip can be grown from seeds, but should not be sown directly outdoors - the best result is to grow seedlings first. For growing seedlings, boxes with light, loose soil are prepared, moistened a little. Then seeds are placed at a depth of 5-10 mm, keeping a distance between rows of about 7 cm.

After 12-15 days shoots should appear.Before the sprouts give the first leaves, a lot of time will pass - this is the peculiarity of this plant. After the sprouts release a pair of true leaves, you can plant them in separate containers. For further growing seedlings, a mixture of peat and humus is most suitable.

After one and a half to two months, seedlings can be planted in the ground. It is important to choose a place for the catnip so that sunlight falls on the plant for most of the day. It should be remembered that catnip does not tolerate low temperatures well and can die in severe frosts.

• In the people, this plant is also called catnip, field mint and mattoshnik.
• People who practice magical rites use catnip to make a love potion and make voodoo dolls - according to legend, this can be used to invoke health.
• In ancient Egypt, cats were revered as sacred animals and the incarnation of the goddess Bast. Near the temples built in her honor, there were many cats, which the ministers fed with catnip.
• This spicy herb causes a state of drug intoxication not only in domestic cats, but also in their larger counterparts - lions, tigers, lynxes, etc. In ancient times, hunters used catnip traps to lure predators and make them let their guard down.