Catnip

Other Names: Cataire, Catmint, Catnep, Catswort, Chataire, Field Balm, Herbe à Chat, Herbe aux Chats, Hierba Gatera, Menta de Gato, Menthe des Chats, Nepeta cataria.
Catnip is a plant. The flowering tops are used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Catnip

• It is UNSAFE when smoked, when taken by mouth in high doses (cups of catnip tea, for example), or when used in children.
• It can cause headaches, vomiting, and a feeling of being ill.
• Not enough is known about the safety of applying catnip directly to the skin.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is UNSAFE to use take catnip during pregnancy. There is some evidence that catnip can stimulate the uterus, and this might cause a miscarriage.
• Not enough is known about the safety of using catnip during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side, and don’t use.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Women with PID should avoid using catnip because it can start menstruation.
• Heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia ): Because catnip can cause menstruation, it might make heavy menstrual periods worse.
• Surgery: Catnip seems to be able to slow down the central nervous system (CNS), causing sleepiness and other effects. Anesthesia and some other drugs used during and after surgery also slow down the CNS. There is a concern that using catnip along with these drugs might slow down the CNS too much. Stop using catnip at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Lithium interacts with Catnip
• Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with Catnip.

The benefits of Catnip are

• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
• Migraine headaches.
• Colds.
• Flu.
• Fever.
• Hives.
• Stomach upset or gastrointestinal (GI) upset, including indigestion, colic, cramping, and gas (flatulence).
• Gas.
• Anxiety.
• Arthritis : apply catnip directly to the skin.
• Increasing urination.
• Treatment of worms.
• Starting menstruation in girls.
• Hemorrhoids : apply catnip directly to the skin.
• Catnip is used as a pesticide and insecticide.