Catnip Essential Oil
Catnip is a perennial herb of the mint family. Its erect, square, branching stem is hairy and grows from 3-5 feet high. The bilabiate flowers are white with purple spots and grow in spikes; these are small and hooded. The plant has a pleasant, aromatic odor. And it seems to be a fact that plants transplanted are always destroyed by cats unless protected, but they never meddle with the plants raised from seed, being only attracted to it when it is in a withering state, or when the peculiar scent of the plant is excited by being bruised in gathering or transplanting.
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| Botanical Name: | Nepeta cataria L. |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Calamintha officinalis, Calamintha clinapodium, Melissa calaminta, calamint, common calamint, mill mountain, mountain balm, mountain mint, basil thyme, nepata, french marjoram, wild basil. |
| See Also: | |
| Parts Used: | Flowering Herb |
| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation. |
| Appearance: | Pale yellow to brownish yellow liquid. |
| Aroma Description: | Herbal woody. |
| Perfume note: | Middle |
| Consistancy: | |
| Strength of Initial Aroma: | |
| Blends well with: | Geranium, rosemary, lavandin, sage, and citronella. |
| Historical Uses: | Long tradition as a herbal remedy for nervous and digestive problems, current in the British Pharmacopoeia for flatulence in children and for the common cold. |
| Modern Uses: | Controls fever. Good for colic, colds, flu, inflammation, pain, chickenpox, leaves chewed to relieve toothache, and convulsions. Stimulates the appetite. Aids digestion and sleep. Relieves stress, promotes sweating, relieves painful menstruation, used to promote menstruation. Popular uses in Europe are for chronic bronchitis and for diarrhea. Producing free perspiration, it is very useful in colds. Anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac (for cats), aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, nervine, emmenagogue, sedative (for humans), stimulant, tonic |
| Cautions: | Non-irritant, non-sensitzing, possible toxic effects in concentration. Use in moderation. Avoid during pregnancy. |
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