Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Hello dear Hive community, first of all I hope you are well and would like to wish you an exciting day in general! Today I had the opportunity to photograph an interesting plant which I would like to present in more detail and hope you can learn something new.

You can see here a plant that is very popular with cats and bears the common name catnip and scientifically Nepeta cataria. The genus was first mentioned 1753 by the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné (1707 - 1778) and the name Nepeta probably derives from the city of Nepet and cataria from the Latin word for cat.

Catnip is perennial and also hardy and the original distribution area is Europe and Asia. It can reach heights of up to 70 cm and prefers sunny or semi-shaded places and in general I would call it easy to care for, but it is important that the plant is not exposed to too strong temperature fluctuations. From around June, the flowering period begins and the white, pink to blue flowers appear which exude an intense scent which also attracts many insects.

One of the best-known characteristics is probably the effect on cats, which makes them euphoric and playful. However, the effect varies from cat to cat and it can also have a calming or sedative effect and is neither addictive or harmful to cats. It is nevertheless important that you do not overdo it because in higher dosages cats can get side effects from it and I think once every few weeks is a good time.

From a medical point of view, it can also be beneficial for humans and it can show a variety of effects. It can be used well to relieve pain, has a general analgesic effect and can show calming effects. For example, you can chew the leaves or prepare a tea and it is rich in essential oils as well as the active ingredients nepetalactone and actinidine. As always, you should ask your trusted doctor about the correct application, dosage and possible side effects!

Catmint is anchored in mythology and was already used as a medicinal plant in the Middle Ages. It was also revered as a magical plant and a legend says that the wearer of the plant should be lucky and it is also associated with love and fertility. Like many other plants, it can also be associated with planets and Nepeta cataria is specifically connected to Venus and Mars.

Thank you very much for watching and hopefully you like my post! I used my camera Sony Alpha 6000 and Sony SEL-55210 Telephoto Zoom Lens (55-210mm) to take these pictures.