* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Medicinal Usage
Though mainly thought of as a feline euphoric, catnip has a rich tradition of folk use. Catnip tea is used for headaches, stomachache, and colic and sleeplessness in children. The fresh leaves are chewed for headache. It's an old home remedy for colds, nervous tension, fevers and nightmare. It is diaphoretic and antispasmodic. Herbalists use it to allay diarrhea and chronic bronchitis. Catnip has also been used for anemia, as well as menstrual and uterine disorders.
The essential oil contains carvacrol, beta-caryophyllene, nepetol, thymol, and nepetalactone.
General Herb Information
Nepeta cataria is the best known of the more than 250 species in its genus. Native to the dry temperate regions of the Mediterranean, inland Europe, Asia, and Africa, catnip is a hardy perennial growing to four feet in height.
The fuzzy grayish leaves are somewhat oval in shape, acute at the tip, heart-shaped at the base, and toothed, and range from one to three inches in length. The flowers occur in tight terminal spikes. Individual flowers are about three-eighths of an inch long, and are white with light purple spots. Flowering begins by the end of May in the South, lasting through late summer in northern climates. This Eurasian native has become naturalized worldwide. A lemon-scented cultivar, 'Citriodora', is available from some plant sources.
Another commonly encountered species in American herb gardens is Nepeta mussinii K. Spreng cx. Henckel. This low-growing sprawling perennial reaches to one foot in height. The gray-green leaves look similar to N. cataria but are only an inch long. The flowers are borne on a loose raceme, are about three-eighths of an inch long, and are rich blue. This species has a peculiar pungent citrus-like fragrance and is the showier of the two species. It is often sold under the name catmint, and cats do enjoy it.
Catnip is easily propagated from seeds or root divisions. Seeds can be sown directly in the garden in spring or fall. Root divisions can also be done at either time. Young seedlings should be spaced eighteen to twenty-four inches apart. Established plants will self-sow. Commercial plantings can be expected to produce between 1,500-2,000 pounds per acre.
"If you sow it cats won't know it, if you set it cats will get it" is a bit of folk wisdom the herb gardener will find true more often than not. Plants sown from seeds seem to be left undisturbed by cats until harvested or transplanted. Bruised leaves release essential oils and attract cats.
Catnip thrives in a variety of habitats. I've seen it growing well in the poorest dry garden soils and in rich, deep-shaded woods. It enjoys full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It will thrive in almost any garden soil and become weedy if given the opportunity. Soil pH can range between 5 and 7.5. The plants will become more fragrant when grown in a sandy soil in full sun than in a heavy loam under shade. Frequent shallow cultivation encourages vigorous growth.
The flowering tops are the most desirable part of the plant. Catnip is by weight 60 to 80 percent stem material. Dried catnip available on the herb market is often of inferior quality, being mainly stem chards.
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Directions
Take 1 capsule, 3 times daily, with meals.
Additional Information
TerraVita is an exclusive line of premium-quality, natural source products that use only the finest, purest and most potent ingredients found around the world. TerraVita is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. All of our products are prepared with the highest elements of quality control, from raw materials through the entire manufacturing process, up to and including the moment that the bottles or bags are sealed for freshness and shipped out to you. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
TerraVita exists to meet and ensure your family's health and wellness without the harmful effects or chemicals and prescription medications. We strive to make all of our products affordable and reliable and are constantly searching the market to maintain our affordability and to look for new ways to serve you and the ones you love. TerraVita has become a trusted household name for many families and can bring you and yours the very best herbal supplements, blends, teas and spices that are on the market today.
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ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
