Click image to enlarge
Catnip is also known by the names Catmint, Catnep, and Field Balm. Catnip, a member of the mint family, grows on banks and waste places in northern temperate regions around the world. It is so named because of the peculiar behavior of cats when they get a whiff of this feline favorite. It doesn't cause such behavior in humans but, like many botanicals, it has many excellent nutritional properties. Early American settlers believed Catnip would make kind people mean, and so the dried roots were fed to hangmen and executioners. The part of this plant used medicinally is the leaf. The primary chemical constituents of Catnip include essential oils, iridoids, and tannins. It also contains iron, selenium, potassium, manganese, chromium, and moderate amounts of other minerals & vitamins. Catnip has soothing and relaxing effects on the digestive system, relieving diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, upset stomach and headaches. Catnip contains antispasmodic properties that are ideal for treating abdominal and menstrual cramping, as well as chronic coughing. Excellent in reducing fevers, Catnip is also good for alleviating sleeplessness and insomnia. Catnip's antibiotic and astringent properties are also beneficial for treating colds and bronchial infections. This herb also has many topical application - as a bath herb for stress, colic and teething; as a compress or poultice for pain, sprains, bruises and insect bites; as a poultice for toothache; and as a hair rinse for scalp irritations. Other uses include Catnip as a liniment for arthritis & rheumatism; as an eyewash for inflammation, allergies and bloodshot eyes; as an enema to cleanse the colon; and as a salve for hemorrhoids. |
|
Click image to enlarge
Fennel Seed is also known by the names Finocchio and Carosella. The name Fennel is derived from the Latin, "foenum", meaning "hay" due to the finely divided leaves of the Fennel plant. Ancient Greek athletes ate Fennel Seed so they would gain strength, but not weight. During the Middle Ages, the seeds were chewed to stave off hunger during fasting periods, and also during long church sermons. Eating the leaves has been a traditional tonic for the eyes, brain and enhanced memory. The Fennel plant came originally from Europe, where it is still grown today. Fennel Seeds are also cultivated in many parts of North America, Asia, and Egypt. The major constituents of Fennel, which include the terpenoid anethole, are found in the volatile oil. Anethole and other terpenoids inhibit spasms in smooth muscles, such as those in the intestinal tract, and this is thought to contribute to fennel's use as a carminative (gas-relieving and gastrointestinal tract cramp-relieving agent). Related compounds to anethole may have mild estrogenic actions, although this has not been proven in humans. Fennel is also thought to possess diuretic (increase in urine production), choleretic (increase in production of bile), pain-reducing, fever-reducing, and anti-microbial actions. The seeds are used as a flavoring agent in many herbal medicines, and to help disperse flatulence. The seeds, and roots, also help to open obstructions of the liver, spleen & gall bladder, and to ease painful swellings, in addition to helping with yellow jaundice, the gout and occasional cramps. Fennel Seed was formerly an official drug in the United States, and was listed for the treatment of indigestion. |
