Catnip

(Nepeta cataria)
 
Catnip is a sun-loving member of the mint family. If you choose to grow it, either leave lots of space for the neighborhood cats to roll around on it or place dowels every few inches around it to make it a bit too uncomfortable for the cats.
 
 Today we think of catnip simply as a way to entertain cats, but traditionally, catnip was turned to for a variety of maladies. Chock full of medicinal properties, it is fantastic in teas, balms, and poultices.
 
The most common way to benefit from catnip is by drinking it in tea form. Both the leaves and the flowers can be used for this purpose. 
Catnip was used in traditional medicine to bring down low fevers, relieve stress and help with digestional issues. Used as a poultice it was applied to help heals sprains and arthritis. Today its use has been almost completely eclipsed by modern pharmaceuticals.
 
 
 
 
Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.
 
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DR BEFORE USING ESPECIALLY IF PREGNANT OR NURSING.