INTRODUCTION :
Nepeta cataria is a member of the Labiatea and found natively in the eastern Mediteranean, Southern Asia and China. This hardy perennial has small oval leaves, violet flowers and grows about one meter in height.
This very odoriferous plant appears to have an irresistible action on cats (this is where its popular name comes from).

EFFECTS :
Euphoria, sedation and a soporific action (sleep inducing).
Autonomic effects: anticonvulsive, increased body temperature and sweating.

DURATION :
The effects usually last a few hours when an infusion is taken, but shorter time when smoked.

Dosage and preparation :
An infusion can be prepared from the foliage, but the plant material may also be smoked. Catmint (catnip) is active in doses between 5-30 grams. 4, 5 Catmint is sometimes taken in combination with damiana (Turnera diffusa); a mild euphoric tea is prepared by combining both herbs in 50%/50% ratio and in doses of a few grams. 5 Let the tea draw for 5 minutes.

Figure: Dried catmint

Botanical aspects :
N. cataria belongs to Labiatae and found natively in the eastern Mediteranean, southern Asia and China. This hardy perennial has small oval leaves, violet flowers, grows about one meter in height and can easily be propagated by its seeds. The germination periode lasts 1-2 weeks.

Figure: Nepeta cataria

Phytochemistry : 
The volatile oil (present in the foliage and flowering tops) consists of at least 23 components, of which approximately 40 % are nepetalactones (nepetapyrones) and 43 % nepetalic acids.
From the lactone-group nepeta lactone, dihydro-nepetalactone and isodihydro-nepetalactone are present in most significant amounts. The pyridine derivative actinidine has also been isolated from the foliage.

Pharmacology :
Nepetalactones are structurally similar to the active constituents of valerian (Valeriana officinalis), valepotriates, and thus might exert their effects through similar mechanisms, but this has not yet been demonstrated . Actinidine is a psychoactive alkaloid that interferes with GABA-ergic metabolism; it is a naturally occuring ligand (agonists) on benzodiazepine receptors and thus exhibit allosteric modulation of the GABA-receptor-proteins.
Liitle information is available concerning the pharmacodynanamics and pharmacokinetics of the nepetalactones. Long-term administration of the nepeta oil in mice resulted in induced tolerance to stereotypical behaviour, increased sleeping time and catalepsy. 8 Tolerance exhibited during cognitive performance- tests in rats. 7
Actinidine and iridomyrmecine apparently occur in Californian ants from the Myrmacomecocystus family (the first as a toxin, the second as a pheromone).

Modifiers :
- Activated charcoal counteracts the effects of catmint.
- Nepeta oil extract and nepetalic acid increase hexobartital induced sleeping time in mice.
- Nepeta activity does not interfere with haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice.

References :
1. [Andrews/ Basu/ Amaresh]
2. [Fessenden/ Fessenden, 1998]
3. [Forth/ Henschler/ Rummel/ Fostermann/ Starke, 2001]
4. [Fugh-Berman/ Cott, 1999]
5. [Ratsch, 1998]
6. [Waller/ Johnson]
7. [Harney/ Barofsky/ Leary, 1978]
8. [Massoco/ Silva/ Gorniak/ Spinosa/ Bernardi, 1995]

(Text by Wout. Copyright Amazing Nature)