How to Use Catnip - ID, Harvest, Process, Store, Uses, Make Catnip Tea, and More!

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Catnip - Nepeta cataria
In this video, I show how I harvest, process, clean, dry, store, and more with catnip. I also discuss some of the uses for catnip and how I like to use it to make tea. Catnip is an edible and medicinal plant, and I recently had some success with it to help relieve back pain and back spasms when I had a very sore back. Catnip is edible and a good source of potassium as well as other vitamins and minerals. Catnip is also a mild sedative and has been used to help relax, relieve anxiety, help fall asleep, and for all sorts of stomach complaints.
Catnip is an edible and medicinal plant with a long history of cultivation dating as far back as Roman times. It can very found growing in gardens and is often considered a weed. I like to have it around for a number of different reasons. I get visited by my old meathead friend in this one to discuss some reasons why I like catnip.
Catnip is know for its effect on cats, and it has been used by humans medicinally since Roman times.
Identification of Catnip
Catnip is a perennial herb which grows from a taproot. It has a square stem, is covered with fine white hairs, and has leaves that are heart shaped, coarsely toothed, green on the top and greyish green underneath, and catnip smells minty and a little musty. The flowers of catnip are whitish pink with purple spots and form clusters near the tips.
Catnip Has Medicinal Uses
Catnip has been used to relieve flatulence, nausea, diarrhea, upset stomachs, and other digestive problems, relieve anxiety, and catnip is considered soothing to the nervous system and said to help with insomnia. It is gentle and has been given to young children. Catnip has also been used to relieve headaches and catnip can affect cats but there are no cats on catnip in this video.
Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Wiles, Briana. Mountain States Medicinal Plants. Timber Press Inc. 2018.
Millard, Elizabeth. Backyard Pharmacy: Growing Medicinal Plants in Your Own Yard. Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. 2015.

[@emmalee478]

Welcome back! Hope to see more videos soon!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@maravee80]

So good to see you! My favorite forager ❣❣❣

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I'm happy to make a video!

[@heavenboundtoourlord]

"You can do it!" (7:27) "You are your own expert; much more capable than our system will lead you to believe - just go for it!"

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

🙂

[@louiseb6288]

Great video, I have lots of catnip in the garden and leave some of my plants to flower because bees like them. I leave seeds on the plant throughout the winter because goldfinches returning from the South in spring eat the seeds.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I've also noticed they seem to be very popular with bees. Thank you!

[@kurtarron6482]

Oops, sorry....i read the more section after the video. I got the answer. Thanks so much. Happy hunting to me :)

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

OK! I sometimes wonder if anybody even reads those descriptions. I'm glad it helped you! Happy hunting!

[@heavenboundtoourlord]

When plucking off all the leaves at once from the stems, go the opposite way that they are angled. (ground-wards/down) Rather than a struggle, they will snap off easily and be less damaged.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Good tip! Thank you!

[@heavenboundtoourlord]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager You are welcome; lets thank our Creator! :)

[@kurtarron6482]

My phone is not that good with picture/colors. Was those flowers on the plant a light pink? I would like to try to recognize it in the yard or wild. Thanks

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Sorry, I didn't do a very good job showing the flowers in this one. There are some good close shots of the flowers in this video if you're interested. They're usually white with purple or pink spots. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6iXpWxpa5iKrMUsi=JlRs6oMy-v09iNsY

[@ScottWConvid19]

Glad to see you're still in the game. I discovered the paper bag method years ago. I also discovered that if you don't tumble the leaves frequently, mold can take hold of some herbs. I usually only wash leaves that might have white splatter on em 🐦 🦜 😂

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I hope to make some more content soon. Good comments in drying and washing. Thank you!