Catnip Essential Oil
Botanical binomial: Nepeta cataria
Family: Lamiaceae
Other names: Catmint, Catswort
Country of Origin: Canada
Part of plant used in production: Leaf and stem
Methods of production: Steam distillation
| Description: | Catnip is a perennial, herbaceous plant blooming late spring to autumn. Resembling typical members of the mint family. |
| Characteristics: | The oil is a clear, yellow to light brown liquid that is rich, herbaceous in aroma with a mild floral note. |
| Properties: | Sedative, Carminative, Diuretic, Nervine, Emmenagogue, and Diaphoretic. |
| Constituents: | Nepetalactone, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, carvone, cis ocimene, limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene. |
| Uses: | Traditionally, catnip is used as an insect repellant. It also helps in alleviating fever, migraine, ulcers and nervous system disorders as well as easing muscular, intestinal or menstrual cramps. |
| Blends well with | Grapefruit, lavender, lemon, marjoram, peppermint, orange, rosemary, spearmint. |
| Interesting Facts: | The herb is a stimulant for felines, where most find an intense attraction to them – this is where the name Catnip derived from. |
| Safety: | Avoid during pregnancy |
