Catmint & Catnip

So I've found tons of info on catmint & catnip & it says its the same... but why does it look different???

I've kept all the random info I found on here cuz most of it was worded differently - even tho some was the same.. the best I will put on the next post by my pen name - Citrine...

Catmint (aka catnip) grows almost everywhere. The leaves resemble those of garden mint and it has small white flowers. If you love your cat, you should plant some for his sake, because cats love it.

Catnip is bound to Venus and Water. In magic, it is thought to be related to animals, love, luck, happiness, and beauty.

The Romanies always added catmint to the rinsing water after washing their hair. It was said to increase the growth and ease any irritation of the scalp.

Dose yourself with catmint tea when you feel a cold coming on, it will help perspire it out of your system. It also eases tummy pains whether they are caused by indigestion or menstruation.

Grow Catnip for your cat to create a psychic bond. Carry it with you in sachets to attract good spirits and good luck. Use larger leaves as bookmarks in magical texts to increase spell powers. Use in a sachet combined with rose petals to attract lovers. Inhale the steam from teas for beauty and happiness spells. For love, luck, happiness, and beauty, try Catnip Cookies or Candied Catnip

A tea is made from the fresh leaves in a ratio of 1:1 boiling water and herb. Add honey and sip slowly as an aid to sweating out a cold or for unwinding and insomnia. Together with a number of other herbs, it was an ingredient in a late Saxon medicinal ale prepared to expel the Devil and "all madness." Consider catmint as a protective plant around your home and for use in exorcisms and for evicting negative spirits..

Protection Spells
Exorcism
Air Herb



Catnip or catmint (Nepeta cataria): Catmint is a good herb for cooling fever and promoting sleep. I find it works especially well if you’re the kind of person who can’t sleep well with a fever. Catnip really helps here. It’s a great herb to calm down overtired kids. It also makes a really good pesto. Simply substitute it for basil in your pesto recipe. Catmint is a little bitter as a tea, so for the kids I give them plenty of honey with it or make a glycerite with it. I’ve raised enough this year to make catmint honey with it. Dry it, make a glycerite with it or preserve it in honey. You can make an insect repellent of a tincture of catmint with 100 proof vodka.It grows well from seed or you can get a potted plant. Kitties do love it, though!


Catmint is one of the traditional cold and flu remedies. It is a useful diaphoretic helpful in any feverish condition, especially acute bronchitis. As a carminative with anti-spasmodic properties, Catmint eases any stomach upsets, dyspepsia, flatulence and colic. It is a perfect remedy for the treatment of diarrhoea in children. Its sedative action on the nerves adds to its generally relaxing properties.

It is possible to obtain a very mild intoxication when Catmint is mixed in equal parts with tobacco. The euphoria produced is reported to be significantly weaker than that of marijuana. But, it is possible that catmint's effect is produced merely as a result of enhancing the intoxicating properties of the nicotine found in the tobacco.

Research from the Iowa State University has found that the oil extracted from catnip (Nepeta cataria) containing nepetalactone has been found to be nearly 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.

Furthermore, in Asia Catmint is being used in zoos for years to calm down lions and tigers.
Medical use

The flowering tops are the part utilized in medicine and are harvested when the plant is in full bloom in August. Medical qualities of this plant: carminative, tonic, diaphoretic, refrigerant and slightly emmenagogue, specially antispasmodic, and mildly stimulating. It will relieve painful swellings when applied in the form of a poultice or fomentation.

Controlling fevers

Stress

Digestion

Inflammation

Sleep

Pain & headaches

Stimulating appetite

Arthritis

Anxiety



Colds & flu
http://blacktoadherbals.com

Common Names: Catnip, catmint
Latin Name: Nepeta Cataria
Parts Used: Leaves and flowering tops

Magickal Properties: Animal magick, beauty, happiness, love. Catnip is a feminine plant associated with Venus and the element of Water.

Magickal Uses: Use with rose petals in love sachets. Catnip enhances beauty and happiness. Grow it near your home to attract good spirits and great luck. Press a leaf and use it as a bookmark in your spell book to enhance the power of your magick.

Medicinal Properties: Anti-spasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, sedative.

Medicinal Uses: Catnip is used as an tranquilizer, sedative, digestive aid, and treatments for cough, colds, colic, diarrhea, flatulence, fever, and insomnia. Extract of catnip has been found to be cytotoxic to HELA-S3 cancer cells in cell culture. Catnip tea is used to treat everything from colds to cancer. Common uses are: as a digestive tonic, and mild sleeping aid. Catnip eases upset stomachs. It is good for treating children's diarrhea.

Digestive Aid: Catnip may soothe the smooth muscles of the digestive tract (making it an antispasmodic). Have a cup of catnip tea after meals if you are prone to indigestion or heartburn.

Women's Health: Antispasmodics calm not only the digestive tract but other smooth tracts as well, such as uterus. Catnip's antispasmodic effect supports its traditional use for relieving menstrual cramps. Catnip is also used as a menstruation promoter.Pregnant women should avoid using this herb.

Tranquilizer: Catnip is a mild tranquilizer and sedative.

Infection Prevention: Catnip has some antibiotic properties. It is used for the treatment of diarrhea and fever.

Dosage: A catnip tea can be made by adding 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water to 1-2 teaspoons of the herb; cover, then steep for ten to fifteen minutes.
Adapted from gypsymagicspells