Catnip: It is a plant that, in addition to being beautiful, has properties that cats usually love. In fact, it is sometimes called the cat drug, as it seems to be loved by many.
But aside from that, the Nepeta cataria is a very interesting species to grow in gardens and on balconies. Its appearance is similar to that of peppermint or mint.
Where is it located?
It is a plant that, in addition to being beautiful, has properties that cats usually love. In fact, it is sometimes called the cat drug, as it seems to be loved by many.
But aside from that, the Nepeta cataria is a very interesting species to grow in gardens and on balconies. Its appearance is similar to that of peppermint or mint.
Where is it located?
Flowering period: July-August.
It is native to Europe, where we will find it in vacant lots, slopes, embankments, and among the ruins of old and abandoned houses. It has also become feral in Western Asia, as well as in North America.
Reaches a height of between 20 and 90 centimeters, with grayish branched stems, from which opposite petiolate leaves sprout, with jagged edges and hairy on the underside. The entire plant is hairy and aromatic, giving off a mild citrus scent. The flowers appear grouped in stalked spikes and are yellowish and pink with purple spots.
What does it do to cats?
Catnip causes cats to exhibit a variety of behaviors, some similar to when they are in heat. For example, they begin to rub, play and romp, roll in the grass, roll around and even vocalize (meow) and salivate. The answer can range from 10 to 30 minutes, and some cats even seem to «hallucinate»; playing with imaginary things.
In general, the reaction is always positive, as has been observed, and there are no documented episodes of negative behavior, at least severe.
According to Turner, the response is hereditary and only between 70 and 80% of cats show this reaction to the presence of the plant. In addition, animals do not show effects until they are six months old and sexually mature.
This has to do with the metabolism of the protagonist substance in its behavior.
The substance behind this whole thing is called nepetalactone. This terpene was discovered a century ago, but it is still something to talk about due to many aspects that are still mysterious. Nepetalactone is the cause of the effect in cats.
It is believed that this volatile compound enters the olfactory system of cats and, once in the mucosal tissue, binds to receptor proteins that stimulate various stimuli. These trigger a response in the cat’s olfactory bulb, which projects neurally to various parts of its brain. Among them are the amygdala and the hypothalamus, two main nuclei that control everything from emotions to reward system responses, among many other things.
These areas, in turn, trigger a response in other parts of the brain related to behavior. Basically, nepetalactone acts as a kind of pheromone synthetic in the cat, causing it to react as if it did to a sexual stimulus. Hence the frisky behavior.
Nepeta cataria: Uses in humans
The flowering stem and all the aerial parts of catnip were used in the past in a general tranquilizing preparation, which favored digestion. They were also used to treat wounds, pain, and female problems. Historically, they had many other uses: executioners were advised to chew the root to strengthen their nerves to perform their task well, and «hippies» experimented with it to find out if it had hallucinogenic properties.
Other effects observed are the antipyretic capacity against a high fever, or some help to treat bronchitis or spasms associated with menstruation, all related, almost certainly, to its antispasmodic property. In addition to the above, a series of properties never scientifically demonstrated, but which are collected in the ethnological heritage of different cultures, are also attributed to it.
Among its properties is that of curing gastroenteritis, a temporary nervous disease, anemia, weakness or even some infections.
The mechanisms behind these claims are not known, nor is their action documented. But we still have one last ace up the nepetalactone sleeve.
not long ago, nepetalactone could be the necessary clue to find a mechanism of great interest for the treatment of cancer. Specifically, what they discovered is the conversion mechanism that this plant has, which transforms terpenes, precursors of nepetalactone into it.
What is interesting in itself is the process, and not so much the substance, since it has opened a new way of understanding in the appearance of components such as vincristine and vinblastine. What do these two molecules have to do with each other? These appear in the vinca of Madagascar, Catharanthus roseusand are used to treat various cancers, such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma or breast cancer, among others.
The mechanism by which nepetalactone appears, which is different from that typically observed in the generation of plant terpenes, seems to be behind the appearance of these other two substances that are normally obtained from nature from vinca. Thanks to this knowledge, the researchers believe they can begin to work in a synthetic way. In this way, using the recently discovered enzymatic mechanism, they could dedicate themselves to generating vincristine and vinblastine in the laboratory in a faster and cheaper way, being able to improve and lower the costs of treating multiple tumors
Nepeta cataria: care
If you want to have a specimen, either to decorate your garden or balcony, for your cat to enjoy it… or for both reasons, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
Location
It is a plant that must be abroadin a place where it receives direct sunlight, if possible throughout the day or at least 4 hours.
Land
- Flower pot: you can fill it with universal substrate.
- Yard: grows in all types of soils, including limestone, as long as they have good drainage
Irrigation
moderate to low. You have to let the soil dry a bit before moistening it again, which is why if you have it in a pot it is not advisable to put a saucer under it or place it inside a pot without holes.
In principle, and depending on the climate, Nepeta cataria must be watered about 2-3 times a week in summer, and a little less the rest of the year.
Multiplication
catnip multiplies by seeds in springfollowing these steps:
- First, you must choose the seedbed: pots, seedbed trays, peat tablets, yogurt or milk containers… Anything that has holes or can be drilled and is made of a waterproof material will work for you.
- Then, fill it with substrate if necessary and water. If you are using peat moss tablets, put them in a container of water until they have fully hydrated.
- Next, sow the seeds, trying to put 2 or 3, no more, in the same alveolus/tablet/pot, burying them a little.
- Finally, water again (except if you use peat tablets), and place the seedbed outside in full sun.
If all goes well, you will see that they will germinate in about 10 days.