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| The Cat Ecstasy - Catnip! |
Nepeta Cataria, the scientific name for catnip, is a herb from the mint family native to Europe. Cat-owners who have catnip growing in their gardens may notice their cats rubbing or licking the plant (Like one of my cats!). After sniffing catnip, cats will show a noticeable change in response, such as acting "drunk", rolling around in ecstasy, or as if they have been sexually aroused.
This unique effect on cats is due to a particular aromatic oil in catnip called nepetalactone. Though some sources state that there is a receptor at the back the cat's nose for nepetalactone in the vomeronasal organ, researchers in UC Davis have shown that cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ. Different cats seem to react differently to catnip, yet the overall hallucinogenic effect is said to be similar to LSD or marijuana. This behavioural change which cat undergoes when exposed to catnip is inherited as a dominant trait, so only those with the autosomal dominant gene will react to catnip. Some large cats like tigers and lions may enjoy catnip as well!
Catnip is not only a magical plant for cats, but also a medicinal plant for us. Now we can purchase many effective drugs in the pharmacy, but our ancestors or those who still live close to nature would not be able to access a lot of new drugs - this is where plants come to great use. Medicinal plants are 100% natural so it is safe to use and unlikely to cause side effects. Fresh catnip leaves can heal cuts by simply crushing, damping, and applying them on the wound. Ingesting catnip can help treat gas and stomach aches; it can also relieve cold symptoms, so it is a perfect Nyquil substitute in the wild! When brewed in tea, catnip can calm and have a sedative effect. It can also be used in cooking as an aromatic herb added to salads or other dishes.
Even though more and more synthetic drugs are produced and sold, it is important to acknowledge the significance of medicinal plants on human health. Like catnip, there are hundreds of other herbs and plants in the world that serve important health purposes from antibacterial properties to detoxification effects. Some may cure minor bites and injuries, but others may be keys to numerous fatal diseases, including cancer. I believe in the future most medicines will incorporate these organic natural plants and ultimately provide a way to cure incurable diseases we currently face!
References:
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/09/30/most-powerful-potent-medicinal-medical-plants-in-nature/
http://www.cat-world.com.au/all-about-catnip
Hey Yuka! While I love your enthusiasm for using medicinal plants, I want you to know that being 100% natural does NOT make medicinal plants safe and unlikely to cause side effects. Medicinal plants, like pharmaceuticals, contain active chemical compounds that interact with our bodies in many different, and mostly unknown, ways. After taking Botanical Medicine and Health last semester (and from all the natural product chemistry we've learned while in italy), I've come to understand that plants are drugs and we need to use them with the same sort of caution that we do with pharmaceuticals. This is particularly true for people on prescriptions for more serious conditions like heart disease because different herbal supplements can cause their medications to be ineffective or the plants can have an additive effect which can cause toxicity. I completely agree that medicinal plants have played an integral role on human health throughout time and I believe that will continue in the future. However, people also need to be aware of the power that medicinal plants have before they start using them as a part of promoting their health.
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