Therapeutic Uses
- Digestive Problems – Catnip is an antispasmodic. It soothes the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. Have a cup of catnip tea after meals if you’re prone to indigestion or heartburn.
- Insomnia and Anxiety – The chemicals in catnip responsible for cat intoxication (nepetalactone isomers) are similar to the natural sedatives in valerian (valepotriates). This supports catnip’s traditional use as a mild tranquilizer and sedative.
- Infections – Catnip has some weak antibiotic action which lends credence to the herb’s traditional use in some cases of diarrhea and fever. However, since it’s not a particularly powerful antibiotic, you cannot rely on it to prevent infection.
- Women’s Health Concerns – Catnip’s antispasmodic effect calms the smooth muscle of the uterus, supporting its traditional role in relieving menstrual cramps.
Medicinal Uses: *Anxiety *Arthritis *Cough *Cramping *Diuretic (Increases Urination) *Fever *Gas *Gastrointestinal Upset *Headache *Hives *Indigestion *Insomnia *Nervousness
Catnip Side Effects: Catnip is possibly unsafe when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example). It can cause headaches, vomiting, and a feeling of being ill. It is LIKELY UNSAFE to take catnip during pregnancy. There is some evidence that catnip can stimulate the uterus. This might cause a miscarriage. There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking catnip if you are breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side, and avoid use. Women with Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) should avoid using catnip because it can start menstruation. Because catnip can cause menstruation, it might make heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia) worse. Catnip seems to be able to slow down the central nervous system (CNS), causing sleepiness and other effects. Anesthesia and some other drugs used during and after surgery also slow down the CNS. There is a concern that using catnip along with these drugs might slow down the CNS too much. Stop using catnip at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Catnip Drug Interactions: Catnip might have an effect like a water pill or “diuretic.” Taking catnip might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed. Catnip might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking catnip along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
