Not Just For Cats
Catnip is a powerful and useful herb in the mint family. Catnip is a nervine and can be used for relaxation, as a sedative for sleep, anxiety, stress, migraines, and stomach issues. Nervines help with these issues because they nourish and lubricate nerve tissues.
Catnip is also an anti-inflammatory and can be used for arthritis, hemorrhoids, and swelling from hives or bug bites/stings. Catnip contains vitamins A, B, & C, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and sodium.
Tea is one of the more common ways catnip is taken for its nerving properties. The flowering tops of the plant are steeped in water. I use leaf in my tea. Unlike traditional tea, you do NOT want to put catnip in boiling water, bring the water to a boil and remove from heat for a minute before beginning the steeping process. Consume like any other herbal tea. A poultice or salve can be used for hemorrhoids and stings. Leaves can be tossed onto green salads or fruit salads for added nutrition and a splash of flavor.
Catnip is easy to grow; and pollinators love their flowers.
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