Catnip (nepeta cataria)

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Other names for catnip

catnip
catmint

Synopsis of catnip

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to Europe and Asia and naturalized throughout North America. Best known for its curious effect on cats—thanks to the compound nepetalactone—catnip has long been used in traditional herbal medicine as a gentle sedative, digestive aid, and antispasmodic for humans. Its soft, aromatic leaves and white or lavender flowers contain a range of volatile oils, flavonoids, and tannins, contributing to its calming and carminative effects.

Key actions and benefits of catnip include:

  • Mild sedative and nervine – soothes anxiety, stress, restlessness, and insomnia
  • Digestive relaxant – relieves gas, bloating, colic, and indigestion
  • Antispasmodic – helpful for cramps, menstrual discomfort, and tension headaches
  • Mild diaphoretic – promotes sweating during colds and flus to help reduce fevers
  • Gentle herb for children – used for teething, colic, irritability, and restless sleep

Catnip is typically consumed as:

  • Infusion or tea (alone or blended with chamomile, lemon balm, or valerian)
  • Tincture or glycerite
  • Occasionally as a compress or poultice for external inflammation or bites

Historical Use:

Catnip has been used for centuries in European folk medicine for nervous system and digestive complaints. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly brewed into teas to calm nerves, relieve menstrual cramps, and promote sweating during fevers. Nicholas Culpeper, a 17th-century herbalist, praised catnip for its ability to "expel wind and comfort the stomach".

In Native American herbal traditions, catnip was used to treat coughs, fevers, and infant colic, often administered as a mild tea or poultice.

Today, catnip is a popular herb in gentle calming blends, children’s formulas, and traditional fever or cold remedies. Though best known for its effect on felines, its value as a safe, soothing herbal remedy for humans—particularly for restlessness, digestion, and cramping—remains well-regarded in modern herbalism.

Catnip is used for these health conditions

Anxiety (Traditional)
Anxiety Disorders (Traditional)
Appetite (deficient) (Traditional)
Cramps and Spasms (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Insomnia (Traditional)
Nervous Exhaustion (Traditional)
Nervousness (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
Sleep (restless and disturbed) (Traditional)
Stress (Traditional)

catnip is used to support these body systems

Bronchials (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)