Catnip

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Spain, Turkey, US(Appalachia), US, US(Flathead), Europe, US(Amerindian)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Head), Ache(Stomach), Carminative, Catarrh

Science studied: CALCIUM, CHROMIUM, CITRONELLAL, (1R,5R,8S,9S)-DEOXYLOGANIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Lamiaceae

Scientific name: Nepeta cataria

Common names: Catnip, Adi pişiknanəsi, Almindelig katteurt, Bạc hà mèo, Cat Mint, Cat-Mint, Cat-mint, Cat-mint (EN), Catmint, Catwort, Echte Katzenminze

POWO: 452333-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Spain, Turkey, US(Appalachia), US, US(Flathead), Europe, US(Amerindian).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Stomach)
• Carminative
• Catarrh
• Cold
• Colic
• Emmenagogue
• Fever

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Spain
• Turkey
• US(Appalachia)
• US
• US(Flathead)
• Europe
• US(Amerindian)

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Stomach)
• Carminative
• Catarrh
• Cold
• Colic
• Emmenagogue
• Fever
• Fumitory
• Hysteria
• Medicine
• Pectoral

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Head) · Elsewhere · "
• Ache(Stomach) · Elsewhere · "
• Carminative · Elsewhere · "
• Catarrh · Spain · "
• Catarrh · Turkey · "
• Cold · US(Appalachia) · "
• Colic · US · "
• Emmenagogue · US · "
• Emmenagogue · Turkey · "
• Fever · US(Flathead) · "
• Fumitory · US · "
• Hysteria · Turkey · "
• Medicine · US(Appalachia) · "
• Pectoral · Turkey · "
• Pneumonia · Elsewhere · "
• Refrigerant · Turkey · "
• Respiratory · US · "
• Sclerosis · Europe · "
• Sedative · Turkey · "
• Stimulant · Turkey · "
• Stomachic · Turkey · "
• Sudorific · US(Flathead) · "
• Sudorific · Turkey · "
• Swelling · US · "

18 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Evaluation of Larvicidal Potential of Nepeta cataria and Cymbopogon nardus Essential Oils Against Aedes aegypti. · 2026 source ↗
• Association of Nepeta cataria L. essential oil and eugenol: synergism and safe anesthesia in tambaqui Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818). · 2026 source ↗
• Eco-friendly synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles using Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae) flowers extract: a multifaceted study of their antimicrobial and hemocompatible potential. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• CALCIUM
• CHROMIUM
• CITRONELLAL
• (1R,5R,8S,9S)-DEOXYLOGANIC-ACID
• 7-DEOXYLOGANIC-ACID
• EO
• EPINEPETALACTONE
• FAT
• ALPHA-HUMULENE
• IRON
• ISODIHYDRONEPETALACTONE
• LINOLENIC-ACID
• MAGNESIUM
• METHYL-NEPETALACTONE
• MYRCENE
• NEPETALACTONE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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