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Catnip

Nepera cataria

Nepeta, Field Balm, Cat's Wort, Jia jing jie (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Badranj boya (Ayurvedic)

Native to

Europe to Western and Central Asia

A majority of the Witchlist's Garden include naturalized species that now live across the globe, for history's sake we include it's nativity.

Sacred Places

Nepete, Egypt

Parts Used

  • Flowers

  • Leaves

Medicinal Actions

Note: This information is for historical and ceremonial use only, this information is not FDA-regulated or approved. When considering the Medicinal properties, do not forget that the species, application, and parts used are critical. And please read all warnings. 

  • Analgesic: Pain reliever

  • Antispasmodic: Relieves involuntary movements such as ticks and siezures 

  • (Note: many antispasmodics have the opposite effect depending on your neurology, consult your doctor).

  • Aperient: Stimulate the production and release of bile in digestion

  • Carminative: Relieves gas... Farts, specifically.

  • Diaphoretic: Makes you sweat

  • Emmenagogue: Stimulates menstruations

  • Nervine: literally calms the nerves

  • Sedative: Promotes calm or induces sleep

  • Stimulant: Help to boost brain function and energy

  • Stomachic: Promotes appetite and aids in digestion

Divinities & Mythos

  • Bast/Bastet (Ancient Egyptian)

  • Freya (Norse)

Plant Energies

Over the course of millenia, various religions, physical sciences, diviners and star gazers, etc. have come to assign energies. This is perfectly synopsized by JD Walker in A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft:

Plants can be hot, cold, wet, or dry. They are assigned to or governed by one of seven (or nine [by including the Moon and Sun], depending on your outlook) heavenly bodies. People assigned these characteristics based on where a plant grew, what it looked like, and what effect it had on the humans and animals that came in contact with the plant.

  • Planet(s): Venus, Moon

  • Element(s): Water

  • Gender: Feminine

  • Chakra(s): Third Eye, Heart, Sacral

Warning

This plant is generally considered safe. This is a sedative herb so it is advised that you know exactly how it effects you before using it in conjunction with large machinery. 

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Catnip in Action

The Bat & Raven offers these products that utilize the properties of catnip.

Magical Properties

  • Attraction

  • Beauty

  • Binding

  • Cats (but also... they steal it)

  • Charm

  • Clarity

  • Cleansing

  • Courage

  • Divination

  • Dream Magic

  • Enchantment

  • Fierceness

  • Happiness

  • Healing

  • Love

  • Overcoming Adversity

  • Purification

  • Prosperity

  • Protection

  • Prophetic Dreams

  • Sleep

  • Tranquility

Talk to your Doctor/Medical Professional before adding any Supplements, herbal teas, Infusions, etc.

Part of the reason that we list medical jargin is because many plants can interfere with or even counteract medications we already take or it can exacerbate ailments we already have. 

When talking to your Medical Professional, we suggest asking what "actions" an herb might do to interfere with your health, either positive of negative. For example, if you suffer from heartburn, a Cholagogue which creates more bile may not be advantageous. Too much of a good thing, eh?

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