Catnip

Contributor

Lunar Umbra

Scientific Name: Nepeta Cataria

Folk Name(s): Catmint, Cat’s-play

Element: Water

Planet: Venus

:herb: Disclaimer :herb:

Consult a medical professional and do detailed research before consuming this plant. This is only an informative article. The identification subsection is to help identify the plant. When foraging, be respectful of the plant and its surroundings. Do NOT pick any plant if the area has been sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, insecticides. If you are unsure if the plant has been sprayed, do NOT proceed with foraging.

:herb: Identification :herb:

This plant is roughly 0.6 to 1 m tall with an erect, branching, and hairy stem. The leaves can be oblong, opposite, and are usually soft (they can be in a bunch of formations but generally these are the averages). The flowers tend to be whorled spikes which usually come in white or purple hues. The flower also has two upper corollas which are white in color and are red-dotted. This plant can be found in a majority of the eastern Mediterranean, southern Asia as well as China, and is naturalized throughout the world. Generally, Catnip can be found in warmer climates but can grow in cooler climates.

Catnip-[C]Scientific Name: Nepeta Cataria
[C]Folk Name(s): Catmint, Cat’s-play
[C]Element: Water
[C]Planet: Venus

[BC] :herb: Discl

:herb: Magickal Uses :herb:

When Catnip is given to your cat, it can create a psychic bond between you two. This herb can be used in cat magick, love, happiness, and beauty practices. If this herb is grown or hung near your home, it can attract good luck and good spirits. Catnip can be used in spells that attract beauty and happiness. The leaves can be pressed as bookmarks in magickal texts. It can also be used in sachets, with the addition of rose petals.

:herb: Medicinal Uses :herb:

Catnip has a calming effect as it has some of the same constituents found in valerian. Other medicinal indications is it can be used as a compress for menstrual and muscle issues, general pain (though not as strong as some herbs such as willow bark), headaches, bee stings, hemorrhoids, and can reduce spasms found in the colon. Can be used as a tea but is not prepared the normal way. Has to be stored in water just under the boiling point for at least ten minutes, strained, and pressed. The ratio if prepared as a tincture is 1:5. If Catnip is combined with equal parts of anise and valerian, it can make a great nervine and antispasmodic.

:herb: Culinary Uses :herb:

Catnip can be made into tea and consumed as a tincture. Catnip’s shoots and leaves can be used as a flavoring agent for soups, sauces, variable beverages, as well as multiple variants of liquor and wine. The leaves can also be eaten in salads as they closely relate to that of mint. This particular herb can be eaten by cats. Careful of the effects it can have as your cat can go haywire.