Evidence supporting the use of: Catnip
For the health condition: Anxiety

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has a long history of traditional use as a calming herb in human herbal medicine. Historically, catnip tea has been used in European and North American folk medicine to address nervousness, restlessness, and mild anxiety, as well as to promote relaxation and sleep. The plant contains compounds such as nepetalactone, which is responsible for its well-known effects on cats, but it also has mild sedative properties in humans. The traditional use is primarily as an herbal tea or tincture.

However, scientific evidence supporting catnip's efficacy in treating or supporting anxiety in humans is limited. There are some animal studies indicating that catnip may have mild sedative and muscle-relaxant effects, likely due to nepetalactone and related compounds. Human studies are scarce, and most available data come from anecdotal reports or extrapolations from its use in other cultures. There is a lack of controlled clinical trials specifically evaluating catnip for anxiety in humans.

In summary, while there is a strong tradition of using catnip as a calming agent, the scientific validation is minimal. Its use for anxiety is primarily justified by historical and folk practices rather than robust clinical evidence. If considering catnip for anxiety, it should be regarded as a gentle, traditional remedy rather than a scientifically proven treatment.

More about catnip
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alpha-pinene
amino acids
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basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
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bupleurum falcatum
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cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
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citrus oil
clove
cordyceps
curcumin
damiana
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fennel
gardenia
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
greek mountain tea
green tea
guayusa
hemp oil
hops
Indian tinospora
inositol
jujube
kava root
kudzu
l-glycine
l-theanine
l-tryptophan
lactium casein decapeptide
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus helveticus
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
maca
magnesium
magnolia
matcha
melatonin
mint
motherwort
muira puama
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
omega-3 fatty acids
passionflower
phellodendron amurense
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
polygala root
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhizome
rhodiola
rose oil
rosemary
saffron
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SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
skullcap
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
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valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
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vitamin C
zinc
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gastrodia
cardamom
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
tinospora cordifolia
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lemongrass
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