Catnip Tea Recipe
Catnip makes it delicious tea for humans as well as cats. This common herb is known by a number of names, including catswort, catmint and even field balm. It's a perennial in the mint family that's famous (or infamous) for its ability to drive cats wild.
For catnip tea specifically designed for your cat, visit:
Before you use all your catnip on kitty, though, consider the medicinal uses of catnip tea for humans that you might be able to take advantage of.
Catnip contains nepetalactone and nepetalactone acid compounds that act as a natural sedative. A cup of tea brewed from either fresh or dried catnip can make it easier for you to finally relax after a hard day and drift off to sleep. Catnip is also a muscle-relaxer and antispasmodic that can be helpful in treating stomach cramps. This matches up nicely with the historical use of catnip in treating nervous disorders, stomach upset, gas, and diarrhea.
As an interesting side note, catnip tea was used medicinally by both the ancient Egyptians and Native Americans. Even Europeans enjoyed it as a relaxing beverage before China tea varieties became widely available.
Current research suggests that it's safe to drink up to three cups of catnip tea a day. That may seem like a lot, but this under appreciated beverage can quickly become a guilty pleasure.
The next time you're having trouble settling in for the night, or your stomach is bothering you, try a cup of catnip tea. I'm sure kitty won't mind sharing a little of his stash with you.
The next time you're having trouble settling in for the night, or your stomach is bothering you, try a cup of catnip tea. I'm sure kitty won't mind sharing a little of his stash with you.
Catnip Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tsp. Catnip leaves (dried) - or 2 tablespoon fresh
- 8 oz. Boiling water
- Lemon juice (to taste)
- Honey (to taste)
Directions
- Pour boiling water over catnip leaves
- Steep for five to ten minutes. (The longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.)
- Strain and serve.
The lemon and honey are optional, but make a pleasant counterpoint to the flavor of catnip.
I sometimes add a generous pinch of dried lemon balm to my tea instead of lemon juice. Lemon balm has a mild lemony flavor and a wonderful lemon blossom aroma. It also has relaxing properties.
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| Dried catnip |
It's best to start with a weaker tea and gradually increase the strength as needed. The recipe above is on the mild side. *Pay attention to how you feel after drinking the tea. If you experience any unpleasant side effects, discontinue use and consult your doctor. Overconsumption can lead to stomach upset. Less is more, especially to start.
If you're not growing your own catnip, use a high-quality product from a reputable source.
*Consult your doctor before trying any herbal remedy, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
Special note: Infants and pregnant women should avoid consuming catnip tea.
For more catnip information, take a look at:
Very cool! Thanks! I'm researching inorder to create a selection of Tea for my Cafe/herb shop I want to start.
ReplyDeleteThis was very informative!
DCM,
ReplyDeleteGreat! Glad I could contribute. I hope your shop is a success.
Sara
if you're serving catnip tea at your cafe, be sure to warn people it may impair their ability to drive! or simply install some plush leather sofas inside, along with some tranquil tunes.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I can hardly wait to visit.
ReplyDeleteSara
Is it as simple as it sounds? If I grow the herb in my garden, is there a particular part of the plant I need to trim to make tea, ie. flowers or leaves? How long must they be dried before use in tea? Appreciate any help!
ReplyDeleteHi Bloominthyme:
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty easy. You can use catnip in tea either fresh or dried. If you use it fresh, triple the amount to a tablespoon.
For tea, use catnip leaves. If you're growing it in the garden, pinch back the blooms to encourage leaf growth.
When you dry catnip, make sure it crackles when you crush it (a sure sign the moisture's gone). That way no moisture will get into the jar to cause mold growth.
An afternoon in a dehydrator or warm oven, or a couple of days in a warm attic should do it.
Oh, if you haven't tried fresh catnip, it can smell surprisingly like skunk (mildly). The odor dissipates as the herb dries or when boiled.
Good luck.
Sara
Thank you i just put my leaves up to dry, and am going to make some in a few days
ReplyDeleteCan you use the catnip sold in pet stores as tea?
ReplyDeleteJoan,
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but someone reading this may. I wouldn't think cat friendly catnip would contain anything toxic, but it might be old ans heavy on seeds and stems.
i have allergies to cats and use an inhaler if symptoms are bad, but only when the house is closed up.i am going to try some catnip tea and see if it helps..tks for info
ReplyDeleteMy mother always gets migraines and I always get stomachaches, but both of us have trouble sleeping. Going to try some catnip tea. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteGiven that you're going to drink this, I'd avoid the commercial-grade pet catnip, because you don't know what chemicals have been applied to it either during the growing period or afterwards to preserve it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for catnip tea, everything that I've read says that you will have better luck if let your water cool just a bit, so that it is hot but not boiling.
Finally, mix it with peppermint tea to complement the relaxing qualities and to help smooth out the taste.
How do I make sun tea with fresh catnip?
ReplyDeleteTry three cups of fresh (clean) catnip to eight glasses of water. Steep in the sun for four hours or so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input...I'll give it a try.
DeleteI just starting drying my catnip sunday gping to try tea
ReplyDeleteI know it's good for a baby that has colic. My grandson was crying all of the time and pulling his little legs up because of the terrible cramps in his tummy and the doctors would do nothing for him. At church one Sunday one of the lady's told me that I needed to fix him some catnip tea. I did and he slept all day and no more cramping and crying in the daytime or night. That was the first good sleep that child had in eight months. By the way, he is a healthy 25 year old man now.
ReplyDeleteGerry,
DeleteWhat a great story! Thanks.
Sara
My mom gave me catnip tea as well when I wouldn't stop crying (per the doctor's orders) and it helped. Oh and I'm a healthy 32 year old.
DeleteI get terrible migraines from an Auto accident in 2007 and have been on Neurontin since then for them. This is the first I've heard of this tea and I will for sure be trying it! I am tired of being on medications and would love to have a natural remedy. Also have had bladder pains over the past few weeks and the Dr can't find a reason so this too will be good to try for that rather than the pain meds they have me on.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter also has asthma and always complains of her stomach hurting so I'm going to try it on her too! What a wonderful site!!! Thank you soooo much!!!
Hi Jamie,
DeleteThanks for visiting. Before you make any changes or additions to your current course of medical treatment, please consult your doctor. The information presented here is for entertainment and reference purposes only and not intended to supplement or take the place of sound medical council.
My catnip plant got too big flr mybherb garden now I can put it too use
ReplyDeleteAh, harvest time came early this year!
DeleteI shake a whole bunch and have been to the doctor for it and he said that my nerves are hyper active. I use catnip tea and my nerves don't act up.
ReplyDeleteCan you put in your green tea?
ReplyDeleteYou sure can! I've done it myself. Since green tea doesn't need the high water temps of regular tea, try brewing the catnip first and then adding the green tea a few minutes into the steep time. Although not essential, this method will retain more of the green tea's antioxidant properties.
Delete