Catnip Plant Uses: What is Catnip used for

You have probably seen the cats getting crazy about the catnips. They chew, lick and roll around these catnip herbs very often. Most of you might think that these catnips are just for the cat. Besides from attracting cats towards them, it has got several other benefits that you must not be aware of.

Catnips can be simply applied via their leaves or the essential oil, whereas the catnip tea which is brewed from it leaves is also very popular. Catnip essential oils and extracts are very popular for their uses. They can be generally used in tea, juices, salves, tinctures and even as an herb to be smoked or smoking catnip.

However, if you want to know some detailed knowledge about what is catnip used for, then go through the below points. Catnip has got some really good uses that will surprise you a lot. Scroll down and get to know some interesting benefits of catnip.

Benefits of Catnip

DIFFERENT USES OF CATNIP FOR CATS

Provides relief from stress: Researchers have suggested that when catnip can provide relief from stress as well as can reduce chronic anxiety in both cats as well as humans when it is consumed either in the form of tea and juices or smoked just like an herb. Catnips can also help in improving the immune system and can reduce the secondary symptoms of chronic stress.

Helps in the treatment of skin problems or act as a skin soother: Catnip is considered as a good repellant for bugs but the organic compound that is present in it helps in soothing the bug bits and even helps in relieving irritation on the skin. If you apply extracts or salves to the irritated skin or broken skin, then it can speed up the healing process and will also reduce inflammation quickly.

So, if you little furry is scratching too much her skin, then according to the researchers it is good to provide her a catnip tea bath. This will calm her skin. This treatment also does works for human beings as well.

A very good training tool for your cat: Many experts around the world recommend using catnip to train the cats because they have a very strong reaction towards the catnip herb. If your little furry friend is getting too lazy in the bed and not warming up at all, then sprinkle a tiny bit of catnip and see how active your catty becomes after that.

Sometimes cats are used to ruin the beautiful furniture of the house by their claws. To prevent that put some catnip on the scratching post so that your cat puts its claws on the post and not on the furniture.

It may help you to deal with digestive problems: Researches has shown the catnip is responsible to get you relief from upset stomach, spasms, colic, and stomach acidity. Catnip is mixed in the sleep tea which is then used to address digestive issues that are likely to put the impact on your sleep.

When you catty overeat sometimes, after consuming herbs, she is likely to vomit out the overeaten stuff because cat’s digestive systems are not designed to take herbs. Therefore, eating catnip will help your cat to get the excess out of her and feel relaxed. Catnip also helps in the digestive problems of humans.

USES OF CATNIP FOR HUMANS

It can help you with conditioning your hair: Catnip is also believed to condition, strengthen as well as promote hair growth. The reason behind this can be the presence of high levels of antioxidants in it.

Also, in order to make your own conditioner with catnip, take two teaspoons of dried catnip and boil them in about 16 ounces of water. Keep it as long as you want it or until it cools down. Wash your hair and rinse your hair with this tea. You will find your hair will become softer, shinier and healthier.

Provides relief from menstrual cramps: For those women who suffer a lot during their menstrual period, catnip tea is often recommended as an alternative treatment for their menstrual cramps. Besides giving relief from menstrual cramps, its sedative and calming effects help in soothing many symptoms of menstruation such as depression and mood swings.

You can even bath with it: Using tea bags to make a catnip tea bath will help you get relief from the aches and the pains that are caused by the flu. Also, the antibacterial properties of the catnip make it suitable even for avoiding infections on the cut.

Headache reliever: According to the researchers, catnip has been proved to be an effective treatment for headache or even chronic migraine. Drinking catnip tea, rubbing its essential oil on the affected area or rubbing the leaf of catnip on the temples will provide you quick relief from headache.

It speeds up the healing process: When someone is suffering from cold or flu, one of the fastest ways to recover is to induce sweating and get the toxins flushed out of your system. Same way catnip helps in inducing sweating, which speeds up the healing process. That is why it is often recommended as an alternative for the treatment of the common cold.

OTHER GENERAL USES OF CATNIP

It helps in repelling cockroaches and mosquitoes: Planting catnip in your garden can be of your great use as it a very good insect repellant. Some researchers have proved that nepetalactone, the essential oil that is found in catnip, is about 10 times more effective in repelling mosquitoes than the DEET, the compound which is used in commercial insect repellants.

Catnip attracts butterflies, bees and birds: If you want to attract butterflies, bees, and bird to your beautiful garden, then there is no better idea than to plant catnips in your garden. Do plant the catnips where you need pollination and they will come. Also, the hardy plant looks very decorative in the garden.

Catnip can be used in cooking too: Catnip is an herb that belongs to the mint family. Many creative cooks add catnip to almost everything they make from salads to soups to marinade.

CATNIP SIDE EFFECTS

Are you wondering whether these catnips can hurt your cat? Well, there is nothing to worry about as such because researchers have suggested that cats are unlikely to take an overdose of catnip because they inherently get to know that they’ve had enough of it.

But in case, your little furry friend does overdose on these catnips, and then she might be likely to face problems like upset digestion, diarrhea, and vomiting. If your cat gets sicker, then it’s better to take her to her vet for the better treatment.

Some cautions to use catnips: For the people who are suffering from liver and kidney disorder, consuming catnip tea can be risky. Furthermore, pregnant women should also stay away from this because it can induce premature labor in pregnant women. Other than these specific concerns, catnip is usually non-allergic and harmless.

These all were the surprising catnip’s medicinal uses. This proves the fact that catnip is not just for the cats but human also does have some amazing benefits if they use catnip as catnip tea, juices or even if they consume it as it is.