Also known as Catswort and Catmint
A perienial plant of the Lamiaceae family - inclused mint.
There are two varieties that I have grown.
- Nepeta cataria and
- Nepeta citriodora [ lemon catnip]
Part of the mint family and thus a member of the Nightshades.
Some may be sensitive to the effects where other just have no reaction.
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| Catmint in flower.... protected by a tyre after the cats got to it |
Basically [ especially with cats] there are two ways of experiencing the effects.
- An olfactory one. The essential oils travel through the nose membranes reaching the area of the brain stimulated by "happy" pheromones and the cat goes wild.
- When eaten the effect is a mellowing one
- Freshness
- The old story of fresh is best ~ especially with Catnip as catnip is known to loose it's potency over time. When used in repellents the time frame is only a few ours of effective use.
- Uses
- The concentrated nepetalactone within the catnip is a repellent.
- 10 times more powerful than DEET if the essential oil has been steam distilled. Use as a spray. Not as effective when applied to the skin.
- Mosquito repellent
- Japanese Beetle spray.
- Fly spray.
- Termite repellent.
- needs to be applied to soil where termites are to be an effective deterrent to termite tunneling [ 1]
- Relaxant for both humans and cats.
- Calming effect similar to chamomile.
- May also be used for a sedative effect.
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