Catnip is a member of the mint family which is grayish-white in color and native to Europe and Asia. The heart-shaped leaves and white or pale lavender tubular flower tops are used to make the catnip supplement for a sleep as well as other medical uses. Catnip is also called catnep, catmint, cat’s play, catrup, carwort, nip, nep and field balm, It contains volatile oils, sterols, acids and tannins including monoterpene and nepetalactone which are similar to the valepotriates found in Valerian a popular herbal sedative. Catnip has the opposite effect on people as it does on cats. You may feel cool, calm and collected while your cat is rolling around uncontrollably and experiencing dilated pupils and a rapid heart beat. Nepetalactone can also be used as a repellant for insects such as; cockroaches, termites, mosquitoes and can help your cat repel fleas. Catnip also contains thymol an antiseptic used on the skin and in nasal passages. Read more »