While catnip is nothing but a plant with pretty flowers to humans at first glance, it seems to have a magical effect on cats. As soon as they get close to the fragrant plant, many house tigers go into a frenzy-like state, rolling on the ground or shredding the leaves. But the plant also holds interesting ingredients for humans: it has relaxing, digestive, detoxifying and mildly euphoric effects.
Catnip: description and cultivation
Originally from Southern Europe and Africa, catnip has been native to Central Europe since the mid-18th century. The labiates prefers nutrient-rich, dry clay or sandy soil and loves warmth and light. Catmint grows between 60 and 100 centimeters tall.
The green leaves of the plant smell pleasantly of mint or lemon. The flowers always appear close together in fives, forming a calyx that is usually blue-purple, but also white, pink or yellow. In general, both the leaves and the flowers of catnip are individually different for each specimen.
Catnip is excellent as a garden or balcony plant. It can be grown both by cuttings and by dividing the rootstock or by sowing. This perennial plant is winter resistant and very hardy.
Effect of catnip on cats
Why exactly catnip has such a strong effect on cats has not yet been clarified. However, it is certain that not all cats react to the scent of the plant.
While some house tigers dance around the stems completely euphoric, tear the leaves and eat, roll on the ground or turn in circles as if in a drug frenzy, the scent leaves other cats completely cold.
Especially young, not yet sexually mature or very old cats are usually not very interested in catnip. Nevertheless, the scent does not seem to have an aphrodisiac effect, because even neutered cats can be intoxicated by the plant.
However, catnip is not dangerous. On the contrary, many cat owners, for example, fill dried catnip into small bags and use them as toys for their pets. Whoever plays with the idea of planting catnip in their own garden, however, should be prepared to soon see all the cats of the neighborhood gathered in the flower bed.
Effect of catnip on people
Catnip can also have a mild euphoric effect on humans. The dried leaves can be drunk as a tea or smoked.
In catnip tea, the herb has relaxing, analgesic, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, antipyretic and digestive effects. Tea made from catnip can also bring about improvement in cases of insomnia, irritability and nervousness. For this purpose, pour two tablespoons of dried catnip with 0.25l of hot, not yet boiling water and let it brew for five minutes. The tea has a refreshing taste of mint and lemon.
Some people smoke the dried catnip as a marijuana substitute, although it has a very weak effect. For this purpose, the herb can be smoked either pure or mixed with tobacco. The fresh catnip leaves can be chewed to bring relief from toothache.
In addition, the leaves are suitable for a poultice for external injuries. Catnip is also occasionally used in ointments used for problems with rheumatism or hemorrhoids.
