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No one needs tell a cat lover that cats hold Catnip in high
regard.
But cats
aren't the only ones that benefit from this common
herb.
Catnip is known as a kitty aphrodisiac. Bruising the
leaves of
Catnip releases the essential oil (specifically nepetalactone)
which mimics
cat's sexual scents. The aphrodisiac effect on cats has
been documented
for centuries. In the 13th century a German herbal makes note of
"Kattsmintte."
Recently, Dr. Hinshaw endeavored to find if the effects of catnip
essential
oil was exclusive to house cats. He found through research at the
Philadelphia
Zoo that all felines; lions, tigers, leopards, lynx, etc., were
all enticed
by the herb and exhibited euphoric behavior. A well-known
homeopathic doctor,
Dr. Millspaugh, gave up his medical practice to study botany
prompted by
stunning effects produced by herbs. His book documented many
useful herbs
including Catnip, noting favorable effects for humans as well as
feline
friends.
Loving Kitty Sachet
1 handful of Rose petals
1 handful of Catnip
Sew a pouch large enough (approx. 3"x 3") to accommodate 2
handfuls
of herb. Tie or sew the pouch closed. Attach a ribbon or string
to the
pouch. Bob the pouch to watch kitty pounce. More creative sewers
have made the pouch
look like a mouse.
Medicinal and culinary uses abound because Catnip is high in
Vitamin C, A, B (1,2,3,5,6,9,12) and Maganese among other nutrients.
Catnip makes a tasty and healthful herb tea. Common uses for Catnip include tonic,
stimulant, nervine, and antispasmodic. For centuries, Mothers confidently
use Catnip tea to reduce fever, as well as to remedy colic. Chefs include
Catnip in meal plans from appetizers and salads to after dinner teas and
treats. A gentle before meal tea acts to stimulate the digestive system
and increase appetites. Salad greens need not remain exclusively iceberg or
romaine. A wild patch of catnip washed and torn will add a gentle yet wild
flavor to an otherwise mundane salad. Though Catnip need not grow wild
to add to your culinary repertoire. It readily grows in most
gardens.
Mother's Catnip Tea
1 tsp. Catnip
1 cup boiling water
Steep. Add the juice of one lemon slice. Sip as needed.
Use to produce hot sweat with colds & flu.
Evening Tea
½ tsp. Catnip
½ tsp. Chamomile
1 tsp. mixture to 1 cup of boiling water. Pour over the tea.
Cover
the cup. Steep for 10 minutes.
After Dinner Gibbon's Candied Catnip Leaves
White of one egg
Juice of 1 Lemon
Stir together. Prepare a plate with sugar. Dip fresh
Catnip leaves in the egg/lemon mixture. Set the leaf on the
plate. Turn the
leaf over to pick up sugar on both sides. Set the leaf aside to
dry, about an hour.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The Catnip plant grows easily in most gardens. It is a
Perennial root
that renews each spring. Leaves are thick, serrated, soft
with heavy
fuzz or down and heart-shaped. Originally European, Catnip escaped the
confines
of colonists' yards and now grows wild across North America.
There are over 250 species of Catnip, with approximately 20 species readily
available through nurseries and garden suppliers. Some of the most common
Catnip are Nepeta cataria, N. tuberosa. N. racemosa, N. nervosa.
The first year I grew catnip, I transplanted the root in the
early spring.
It grew to a foot tall by late summer when I harvested the
leaves. The
second year, catnip renewed itself early spring, being one of few
plants
to green early after the winter's freeze. It grew to about the
same height,
but I harvested twice that summer. By the third year, catnip
reached its
full height 2 - 2 ½ feet. It has propagated to fill in the
boarders
of the bed.
Catnip, a summer bloomer (in colors from white to purple)
attracts all
sorts of positive insects to a garden from predatory eaters to
pollinators.
Hummingbirds often frequent gardens with Catnip blooms. While
there
are some insects that attack Catnip, they seem rare. However, cat
owners
need guard Catnip from cats in the garden. Felines are known to tear the
little
shrub to shreds, purring all the way!
Morning In The Garden Tea
½ tsp. Catnip
½ tsp. Peppermint
1 tsp. mixture to 1 cup of boiling water. Pour over the tea.
Cover
the cup. Steep for 10 minutes.
Reprinted with permission.
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