If you are a cat owner, you have probably heard of the plant called catnip. Interestingly, this plant is also called cat marijuana because it has a smell that cats love. What is little known is that valerian has actually been used by humans for thousands of years. Of course, it acts slightly differently on humans than on cats and is used to treat different ailments.
The plant we call catnip actually needs to be evaluated from two different perspectives because it has completely different effects on humans and cats. Their harms are as different as their effects. For this reason, we will only give you general information, but you should definitely consult a specialist physician or veterinarian regarding its use. Let’s see in full detail what valerian is, what it does, its harms and how it is used.
First of all, let’s start by getting to know our plant; What is valerian?
Valerian, called valeriana officinalis in the literature, is a herbaceous plant with pink and white flowers. Although it is a plant native to Europe and Asia, it generally grows naturally on roadsides in North America. The underground parts of catnip, rather than its stem, leaves or flowers, are collected and dried in September and used.
The history of valerian dates back thousands of years:
We encounter the oldest use of valerian in the 4th century BC. Hippocrates, one of the important names of ancient Greek medicine, used valerian for his patients suffering from digestive problems, nausea and menstrual pain. It is known that it was used by the Greek physician Galen in the 2nd century AD for its sleep-inducing properties.
In the 16th century, valerian began to be used in perfumes due to its wonderful scent. Although it is not certain, we can say that its effect on cats was also discovered in this period. In the 17th century, valerian, which was also used for epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety and nervous disorders, was brought to the new continent by British colonists and began to be used in North America.
Okay, but what exactly does valerian do in humans?
- It reduces stress.
- It relieves anxiety.
- It is good for insomnia.
- It reduces anxiety problems.
- It reduces the severity and frequency of menopause effects.
- It lowers blood pressure.
- Supports sinusitis treatment.
- It reduces joint and rheumatism pain.
- It is good for indigestion.
- It has antispasmodic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
In general, these are the benefits people will see when they use valerian products. Valerian is sold in the market as tea, oil, capsule and tincture form. You can choose one of these products according to your usage.
Don’t hesitate to use it right away, there are harmful effects and side effects of valerian on humans:
- dizziness
- Headache
- Itching
- stomach problems
- feeling of fatigue
- skin rash
- confusion
- Darkening of urine color
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Swelling of the tongue or lips
These are some of the most common harms and side effects of valerian use in humans. It is not recommended to use valerian, especially for children under 12 years of age, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. People with chronic diseases also need to be very, very careful when using valerian. Even if you do not have any disease or illness, it would be best to consult a specialist before using valerian.
So what does valerian do for cats?
Cat grass, as its name suggests, is actually a plant whose smell cats love. Its use on cats is extremely common. You can find cat herb products made for cats in different forms in many stores selling animal products.
Valerian products produced for cats relax cats just like humans. In addition, since cats love the smell of catnip, these products are mostly used to get cats used to scratching boards and similar objects. Spraying a few sprays of catnip scent on the object you want your cat to get used to will get him/her attached to that object.
The harms of valerian on cats are not to be underestimated:
Studies conducted on cats have shown that valerian does not cause any biological harm. However, it can cause greater harm because your cat may literally become addicted to valerian. Don’t worry about what will happen, because your cat’s psychology may deteriorate due to the difference in consciousness.
Under normal circumstances, the effect of valerian on the cat lasts for a maximum of 15 minutes, but your cat will continue to feel this effect within 2 hours. If a creature that is constantly exposed to this relaxing effect becomes addicted to it, it will constantly feel insecure and anxious when it does not smell valerian.
The use of valerian is not actually a recommended method, but if you think you will use it, use it in very small amounts several times. While your cat is under the influence of this plant, create space for him and leave him alone. Of course, most importantly, consult a specialist veterinarian before use.
Let’s summarize; What are the harms of catnip?
It is a fact that valerian products produced for humans or cats have a relaxing effect on both humans and cats. However, its negative effects and risks are so high that its positive effects can be ignored. For this reason, it is not recommended for easy use.
Valerian has an addictive effect on both humans and cats. Of course, since cats can become addicted much more easily, withdrawal symptoms are experienced much more intensely. However, people can also become addicted to it. For example, if you drink valerian tea every time you have a digestive problem, after a while your digestive problems will become even more annoying if you do not drink it or drink it less.
Even though we know it as a plant that cats love, we answered frequently asked questions such as what is catnip, which has been used by humans for thousands of years, what is it used for, how is it used, and what are its harms. What we say is for informational purposes only. Remember that, as with all health issues, you should get the most accurate information from a specialist physician or veterinarian.
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