Wow! Whoda thunk catnip does so much?
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
February 13, 2013 11:50am CST
I was looking for some natural mosquito repellants when I came across an article about the benefits of catnip. I was quite amazed! It not only makes cats EXTREMELY happy, but it's good for migraines, tummyaches, insomnia, infections and so much more!
Here's a link to the article if you want to see everything this plant does: http://www.nutrinews.com/blog/10-healing-benefits-of-catnip-tea/
[NOT A REFERRAL LINK!]
Oh, yes, it's an awesome mosquito repellant as well! It is purported to be 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitos than DEET! Can you believe that?
I have catnip growing everywhere around here. Someone who lived here before we bought the place had apparently planted some and it has spread like CRAZY! (Catnip is in the mint family and mint is notoriously invasive.) I have had some REALLY happy kitties! 
Are you aware of all the benefits of catnip? Do you know of any other herbs/foods that are this beneficial? I've recently learned about honey and cinnamon and can say that green tea with these two ingredients has successfully cured a sinus infection I had. I'd love to hear about more "super foods".
Are you aware of all the benefits of catnip? Do you know of any other herbs/foods that are this beneficial? I've recently learned about honey and cinnamon and can say that green tea with these two ingredients has successfully cured a sinus infection I had. I'd love to hear about more "super foods".5 people like this
8 responses
@GardenGerty (160777)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Basil is supposed to repel flies. Ginger soothes upset stomach, helps stop coughs and is helpful in reducing pain like arthritis pain. Lemon Balm is supposed to help you sleep, and also repel mosquitoes.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Wow! I knew about ginger but not about basil. I'll need to grow more basil on my deck! Every Spring, we have hundreds of flies hanging out on the deck railing. I'm not sure what they're doing (mating?) but I know it's not good. (We live across the road from a cattle farm.) I hate using chemicals so close to where I spend a lot of time but haven't found a single thing that will eliminate these flies except for those fly traps that STINK so have to be placed a good distance from the deck and that doesn't keep most of the flies away.
I grow basil every year in my herb garden but never thought to grow it on the deck. I wanted the mosquito repellant plants on the deck for that reason; now I'll add basil to them to help keep the flies away, too. 
I also grow lemon balm (also in the mint family). I like to use that in my tea instead of buying lemons all the time. Now that I'm drinking more tea, I'll be using more lemon balm and help keep the pesky mosquitoes away as well.
Thanks so much for that info!
I also grow lemon balm (also in the mint family). I like to use that in my tea instead of buying lemons all the time. Now that I'm drinking more tea, I'll be using more lemon balm and help keep the pesky mosquitoes away as well.
Thanks so much for that info!1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160777)
• United States
14 Feb 13
I wonder if you could crush basil and spread it on the deck rails. Oh, and original Listerine or its store brand equivalent is supposed to repel mosquitoes and flies. I think it is the oil of oregano or thyme or something. I know even if it does not keep them away forever it smells decent, is not toxic and can knock them out of the air when sprayed from a spray bottle. It is very cooling to the skin as well.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 13
If I use it to repel mosquitoes, will I embarrass myself and get "frisky" too?
Read up on ginger and apple cider vinegar for a start, also turmeric (a great anti-inflammatory).
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
16 Feb 13
I don't know about "frisky". I had a cat that got downright MEAN when he got his catnip "fix". I used to spread out newspaper and sprinkle catnip on it for him. He'd do the normal thing cats do, roll around in it, lick it up, roll some more, look like he was really really happy BUT, if anyone got anywhere near him, he'd lie down on his stash, spreadeagled, and growl! Ears back, tail swishing, nope, I'd always back away in a hurry or risk losing my shins.
Somehow, I can't quite picture you spreadeagled and growling on your catnip.
I know about turmeric and do use yellow mustard whenever I can. (Most yellow mustard contains turmeric, or "tumeric", a common misspelling.)
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Wow that's something good to know! One of my cats loves catnip but it doesn't do anything for the other one....I knew it was in the mint family and that's about all I knew about it until now. Thanks for the informative link.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
14 Feb 13
Wow! This discussion is so informative. I have been thinking about buying a catnip plant for my cat. He loves the dried catnip so much I think he would enjoy it. Thanks for all the information! I think I will go out and buy a plant this weekend.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
I have been thinking about buying a catnip plant for my cat. He loves the dried catnip so much I think he would enjoy it. Thanks for all the information! I think I will go out and buy a plant this weekend.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I didn't realize it could be used for so many different things. I was thinking of the cat nip that I used to buy in boxes for my cats but it's a plant. I have never seen the tea or pills, but I guess you can get them at certain health food stores. Thanks for the info.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I grow catnip and tea can be made from that, either fresh or dried. I have one of those "spoons", it's actually like two spoons with holes in both on a spring-like thing that keeps them tightly closed until you squeeze it. You put the leaves in that and put it in the hot water and stir to make tea. I also have a kind of "ball" with holes that you put leaves in to make tea. Hmmm, I only need one of them, don't know why I have both.
I like growing it because I can be sure that it contains no chemicals. Anyone can grow it because it's extremely easy to grow and should be in containers or it will spread like a weed. (It is like a weed here, someone planted it before we bought this house and it is growing throughout the 3 1/2 acres now!)
@goldenteardrops (747)
• United States
14 Feb 13
thanks for shareing this , no I did not know that information. I have heard amny differant stuff like I think it is spear ment keeps mice away or something like that. always good to know..I will check this out more...
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Hi Mental
Thanks for this. I used to grow catnip for my cat back when I had one. I had no idea that it had so many good uses. I have a couple of Herbal and natural remedy books that I use for reference if I ever need but I haven't gotten sick or hurt in quite a while so haven't really looked anything up for a long time. My daughter has been getting a lot of recipes for natural hair and skin products off from Pintrist. If you aren't a member of that site, you should check it out. It is very cool once you figure out how to navigate around on it.
