Catnip-Nepeta cataria

In honor of the big move from cold, wintry Montana to a balmy Nebraska, I will share some great ideas and interesting tidbits about Catnip.

Catnip is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It is often found around old farmsteads. Like Mint, Catnip is often a plant that you start in one place and soon you find it is taking over your yard-either cross pollinating with your mints or just seeming to pop up here and there where you didn't plant it. Instead of thinking of Catnip as invasive, think of it's prolific growing habit as an herbal bounty for your medicine chest!

Catnip's musky scent is not only great for relaxing your favorite kitty, it is a the first choice for a cranky child's tea. Mix half and half with chamomile and you have a wonderful tea for calming and quieting. I also add some Lemon balm to enhance both the calming quality as well as the relaxing property.

Catnip is a gentle carminative, diaphoric, sedative and digestive aid to name a few of the reasons to have it on hand. Put simply, this herb can be used to expel gas, produce sweating, soothe an upset stomach and relax a stressed person. Try to include it in your basic herb garden and medicine chest.

Catnip tea

Combine equal parts:
Catnip
Lemon Balm
Mint
Chamomile

Create a mixture of the above herbs and store in a dark place. To use, measure approximately 1 teaspoon per cup of boiling water. Cover immediately(to contain the volatile oils) and steep for 3 minutes for children and up to 5 for adults. Sip while warm to produce the diaphoric effect-that is to produce sweating. It is a great way to help fight off that cold you feel tickling the back of your throat.

If you want to harvest and store your own catnip, feel free to cut throughout the growing season. Catnip will grow better if you cut it back frequently. Remove the leaves and flowers if you have them. Lay in a single layer on your screen or newspaper. I use a food dehydrator but don't turn it on. Be sure to keep the drying herb out of sunlight while it dries.

Once it is sufficiently dry the leaves and flowers will crumble. Keep in a glass jar out of the sunlight to preserve its flavor and bright green color

Catnip is such an easy and pleasant herb to grow, even a beginning gardener can successfully cultivate this important plant.