Medicinal plant
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
A traditional mild calming and digestive tea. Also called Catnep.
A traditional nervine and carminative, used as a mild, calming digestive tea. Catnip has a long history of human tea use, but clinical evidence supporting medicinal use in people is limited — keep claims explicitly traditional.
Properties
Nervine — Supports, nourishes, or calms the nervous system
Carminative — Helps relieve gas, bloating, and digestive discomfort
Antispasmodic — Helps relax cramps, spasms, or tight muscles
Energetics
Cooling Drying Relaxing
Growing and using it
Life cycle
Herbaceous perennial.
What to buy
True catnip (Nepeta cataria) seed or plant, not an ornamental Nepeta/catmint cultivar.
Best way to start
Seed or nursery plant.
Seed starting
Start indoors before the last frost or direct sow; established plants also self-seed readily.