Catnip -- It isn't just for Cats!

 I was introduced to catnip 20 years ago when my first child was 1 1/2 months old. She had a classic case of colic, making it a hard and very long month and a half.  I remember feeling like I had made the mistake of my life, and that the crying was never going to end. Many mornings I found myself on my parents doorstep with a wailing baby. I'm not sure who was crying louder, the baby or myself!

My mom would take us in and deal with the baby while I got a couple hours of sleep. We tried everything to get her to stop crying, from putting her in her car seat on top of the washing machine (while it was on), running the vacuum and rocking, to taking rides in the car.  Nothing worked!

During these hard first months, I tried to go to church as much as I could. On one of those rare Sunday mornings, one of the oldest members came up to me to see the baby. This little old lady saw how worn out I really was. Putting her arm around me, she asked what was wrong and I told her all about the colic. God used this lady that day to tell me to get some catnip, make a tea out of it and give it to my baby when she got fussy.

I was a little worried, about giving it to the baby but I was at my wits end and figured it couldn't hurt to try. That evening I went to the local health food store where I found catnip tea bags. I made up a cupful and gave my baby about an ounce. I was amazed at how it calmed her down.  I gave her more every night and the transformation was amazing! I was actually getting a baby who started sleeping through the night, was happy during the day and didn't cry all the time!

I haven't had a baby as colicky as my first one, but I have made sure that for each of my other pregnancies I have had catnip tea on hand before the baby is born.

 Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family. It is also a distant relative of the marijuana plant.

The active ingredient in catnip is an oil called nepelactone. The oil comes from the leaves and stem of the plant. The plant is hairy and grows from 3-5 feet tall. It has flowers from June to September that are white with purple spots.

1.  Can be given to infants suffering from colic.
2. Can be used as a mild  sedative for hyperactive children or adults with insomnia.
3. Catnip can be used to regulate the menstrual cycle as well as relieve pain from menstrual cramps.
4. Catnip can be used as an insect repellent. The oil in catnip has been proven to be more effective than DEET, repelling mosquitoes as well as cockroaches and some rodents.
5. Helps to relieve toothaches by chewing on fresh leaves.
6. Helps relieve cold symptoms like coughs, headaches, fever, upset stomachs and sore throats.
7. Catnip can even be used in salads to add flavor to them, as a rubbing on meats, and added to soup, stews, and sauces.
8. Apply crushed and dampened fresh catnip leaves to a cut to speed healing.
9. Last but not least, you can simply use it for your cats as you get pleasure watching them play with it.

 To make a tea with catnip, steep 1 ounce of dried herb or 2 ounces crushed fresh herbs in a tea ball with 1 quart of boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes. It can be sweetened if desired. The oils in catnip are very volatile, so protect tea by covering to keep the medicinal effects intact longer.

Pregnant women should not use catnip. It can cause uterine contractions to stimulate menstruation.