Nepeta cataria
Catnip is a perennial herb—some would say “weed”—of the mint family. It grows wild throughout the United States and Canada. The leaf and flower are used medicinally.
It makes cats a bit crazy, but it will help you settle yourself. This is a good herb for those days when you have something on your mind that’s giving you a headache, making your stomach do flip flops, and keeping you from sleeping. Tradition says that catnip is good for all three of these problems.
What is it good for?
Sedative or insomnia treatment. The anecdotal evidence for catnip as a calmative is strong. It’s commonly used in Appalachia, especially as a calmative for children.276 The Keres Indians used an infusion of catnip in a bath for tiredness.277 The Cherokee used it as a sedative for hysterics.278 The Iroquois279 and Delaware280 used it as a tea to soothe babies and help them to sleep. Clinical evidence, however, is all but nonexistent. We know that catnip contains nepetalactone, which is similar to a compound in valerian, an herb with known sedative properties, but we don’t know exactly how the compound nepetalactione affects people.281 The 1918 U.S. Dispensatory calls catnip “therapeutically feeble.”
How do you use it?
Infusion. To relax before bed, brew a cup of tea using two teaspoons of the dried leaves and flowering tops to one cup of water.282 Heat the water to a boil, let it cool slightly, then add the herbs and steep for about ten minutes. Be careful not to boil the herbs.283 The Eclectic School believed that catnip tea should never be sweetened.
Tincture. 1:2 fresh, 1:5 dried, 50% alcohol.284
Bath. A small amount of catnip in a sack can be placed under the spout of a bathtub for a relaxing bath.
Dosage: How much do you use?
Commercial preparations will include dosage information.
If using an infusion, limit yourself to six teaspoons of the dry herb per day split between three cups of tea. If using a tincture, the dose is one teaspoon, three times per day.285 These doses are the absolute most you’ll want to take, and then only on an occasional basis. Catnip causes nasty symptoms in some people—headaches, drowsiness, and stomach irritation. It also contains tannins, which are hard on the body in high or frequent doses. Consequently, if you want a more conservative dose, that dose is one cup of tea per day, before bedtime, for occasional use only.286 No matter which dose you decide on, you should avoid using catnip long-term.
What should you be aware of before using it?
Catnip gives some people headaches.
Some people report becoming draggy or even punchy from catnip. Make sure you know its effects on you before you try driving or training with it in your system. It may compound the effect of other sedative herbs. (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
One case of central nervous system depression has been reported in a toddler who swallowed a large amount of catnip.287
Too much will cause vomiting.288
Catnip agents are tannin substances.289 Tannins shouldn’t be used internally over the long term. Animal studies indicated that catnip might have negative side effects after long-term usage. Limit use to occasional use only.290
Catnip tea can have a diuretic effect.291
Don’t use it during pregnancy.
Cat’s Claw
Scientific name: Uncaria tomentosa
Also known as una de gato
Cat’s Claw, Uncaria tomentosa
Courtesy of Johannes Keplinger
Cat’s claw comes from the inside of the bark of a South American rainforest vine. The name comes from the hook-like thorns it uses to climb trees.
The indigenous people of Peru’s rain forests use the cat’s claw for a number of purposes including arthritis, bone aches, and deep cuts.292 Its first introduction to Western herbal medicine was in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, its use has been on the rise in Europe and North America. Fifteen years later, that use is still largely in the experimental stage. Doctors and herbalists are still investigating its ability to treat conditions as different as AIDS and ulcers, Crohn’s disease and cancer.293 Yet cat’s claw is not on the Commission E recommended list because at this point we don’t know enough about it to know about its dangers, and we don’t have enough experience either clinical or anecdotal to predict what it might be effective for.
What is it good for?
Arthritis and other joint pain. The Asháninka people of Peru have traditionally used the herb for joint pain. Research suggests a good scientific basis for this use. The beta-sitosterol and carboxyl alkyl esters in cat’s claw are anti-inflammatories. In rat-paw studies, cat’s claw was shown to have anti-inflammatory effects.294 Preliminary clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis show modest benefits.295 Preliminary research for osteoarthritis show significant benefits.296 Though evidence for this use is still small-scale, it is promising.
Immune stimulant. Cat’s claw contains carboxyl alkyl esters, which are thought to be an immune stimulant. It is sometimes prescribed in Europe for this purpose.297 In mouse studies cat’s claw shows some immune stimulation effect.298 However, research is very slim and not backed by clinical trials. Some anecdotal evidence for this use can be found, but it, too, is lacking.
How do you use it?
Commercially prepared capsules. Cat’s claw is typically taken internally. The most common preparation is the commercially prepared capsules containing dried, powdered cat’s claw.
Decoction. If you can get a hold of the bark, you can make a standard decoction, adding about a half teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to each cup of water to help extract more of the active ingredients.299 Take cat’s claw between meals.300
Dosage: How much do you use?
The bottom line is that we don’t know what a good dose is. A typical dose is 3–5 g daily of the powdered vine or ½–1 cup of a decoction once a day.301 However, the largest commercial source of cat’s claw is rural Peru, and that presents a problem. Because the amount of active ingredient in the preparation varies with the age of the tree and how it is harvested, and because Latin America is yet to establish a reputation for consistency in its preparation of herbs, one cannot be quite sure how much active ingredient is contained in any given preparation.302 In Germany and Austria, cat’s claw has been standardized, but it is available only by physician’s prescription.303
What should you be aware of before using it?
Preliminary research shows a no negative effects on either blood or liver and no significant side effects with short-term use.304 Animal trials show a relatively low level of toxicity, but we don’t know how people are going to react if they take the herb long-term.305
Cat’s claw may cause low blood pressure.306
It may have an additive effect if you are taking anticoagulants.307 If you plan to have surgery, tell your surgeon