Original information from Kobashi Official Website:
LATIN NAME: Nepeta cataria
SOURCE: Steam distilled flowering herb
COLOUR: viscous, light amber
ORIGIN: Catalonia, Spain
AROMA: Strong, pungent, penetrating, herbaceous, sweet green, minty
QUALITIES: Catnip is much loved by cats, in fact the essential oil was used in North America in the trapping of wild (big) cats. It is a very effective insect repellent, especially against mosquitoes. Research conducted at Iowa State University found that Nepetalactone, a chemical in catnip, to be ten times more effective than Deet (Diethyl-m-toluamide), the chemical used in most commercial insect repellents. To this end Catnip is an ingredient in our insect blends.The herb has a long history of traditional medicinal use.
Effective in a massage oil for treating sore, stiff muscles. Add to bath base at the on set of colds or chills. Believed to have a sedating effect so may be useful for those expieriencing nervous tension, stress or insomnia.
Cat loves it. You need to only add a drop to a cats toy, then let it sit for and hour, then give it to your cat to play with. Not all cats like catnip oil. Catnip oil is a much stronger than the herb.
A member of the Labiatae family it is a small ornamental perennial growing to 30 to 90cm high with a spread of 30 to 60cm. It has medium ovate, toothed leaves that are grey-green, and erect branched stems. The flowers are blue/mauve borne in whorls and appear in summer. Needs full sun in moist well drained soil. Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring, or by softwood cuttings in summer.
