Catnip Leaves
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You may know about some of catnip’s properties, but do you the many uses of catnip leaves? We all know that the catnip oil secreted by the catnip leaf is the main ingredient in catnip that causes your cats to go crazy. If you know All Things Catnip, then catnip leaves have a key role to play in a lot more areas than you probably expect! Let’s take a look at what else there is, shall we?
What Do Catnip Leaves Look Like?
Catnip leaves are shaped like a heart with ridged edges. The color shade of a catnip leaf varies from green to grayish green. See the pictures for some illustration of what catnip leaves look like.
Catnip Leaves and Food
Catnip leaves have been used to flavor food, like stews, salads, soups, and various types of sauces. Catnip leaves can be used to flavor and tenderize meats. Candied catnip leaves can be eaten like mints (since of course catnip leaves ARE mints!) as well. The minty flavor also goes well with honey. As an aside, be sure to use dried catnip or fresh catnip leaves, and not the packaged catnip for foods.
Catnip Leaves and Catnip Tea
Teas have been made from a variety of substances and catnip leaves are no exception. Catnip leaves in a tea works as a mild sedative on humans and is also used to reduce nausea and calm nerves, with that added minty bonus. The same dried or fresh catnip leaf warning applies here to catnip tea as well.
Medicinal Uses of Catnip Leaves
Catnip leaves can be made into a poultice used to reduce swelling and boils. As seen with catnip teas, catnip leaves can be used to treat colds, fevers, gas problems, upset stomachs, toothaches, headaches, respiratory problems, nervous disorders, and as a general remedy for various other ailments.
Mystical Associations of Catnip Leaves
Catnip leaves are associated by believers in magic with luck, happiness, and attractions. Some believe the catnip leaf to be effective in attracting members of the opposite sex. Catnip leaves are expected to make a woman seem more attractive and charming. People make baths, sprinkle it on themselves, carry it around in a pouch, or scatter the catnip leaves around the house for these expected effects.
Catnip Leaves Summation
As we’ve seen, the humble catnip leaf isn’t nearly as humble as you probably previously thought. Catnip leaves have their long standing associations with food, drink, medicine, and ritual beliefs. While we are most familiar with the obvious cats on catnip connection, catnip leaves are good for many other uses as well.
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[…] concern when buying bulk catnip is the possibility of catnip seeds, catnip leaves and stems in the package. You don’t want your cats eating these so be sure that your supplier […]
Catnip Leaves | All Things Catnip…
Everyone is familiar with ordinary uses of catnip, but did you know the uses for catnip leaves historical and modern? Catnip leaves can be used to season meat, make catnip tea, and flavor an assortment of food and drink items. Catnip leaves…
[…] teaspoons of fresh catnip leaves (if you can’t get fresh catnip leaves, dried catnip is […]
[…] will need to protect it, as surely those pesky cats will find it, and if you let them, rip off the catnip leaves in a paroxysm of happiness, forcing you to get back to growing catnip from square one. Wire cages […]