Evidence supporting the use of: Catnip
For the health condition: Appetite (deficient)

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Synopsis

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

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe and North America. Traditionally, catnip has been used to address a variety of mild ailments, including as a mild sedative, digestive aid, and carminative. Historical herbal texts, such as those by Nicholas Culpeper and various 19th-century herbalists, mention its use to stimulate appetite, especially in individuals experiencing loss of appetite due to digestive discomfort or mild gastrointestinal upset.

Catnip’s traditional use for appetite stimulation is based on its gentle action in soothing the digestive tract, relieving flatulence, and reducing mild stomach cramps, which in turn may help restore appetite. Herbalists often prepared catnip as a tea or infusion for this purpose. Despite its established place in folk medicine, there is limited scientific research specifically investigating catnip’s effects on appetite in humans. Most modern research has focused on its effects on cats or its mild calming properties in humans.

Therefore, while catnip’s use for deficient appetite is primarily justified by traditional knowledge and anecdotal reports, robust scientific validation is lacking. The evidence rating is modest (2/5) because the practice is well-documented historically, but not substantiated by modern clinical trials.

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