Catnip is actually part of the mint family. I do know it makes a calming tea. Gave my cat mint tea bags and has a similar effect as catnip.

no. i tryed it.

I am an avid weed (crippy) smoker. I ran out last night and smoked one bowl of catnip. It did not come close to the same effects of weed. It smelled/tasted like ass and made me feel run-down and fatigued. I laid in bed for hours until my dog forced me to take her outside. Today, I feel terrible, far worse then I have ever felt after a night of smoking, heavily.

My throat hurts and now my pipe has catnip stuffed in it. I would have never done it, if not for reading on this website that it works. Please spare yourself this experience and do not believe comments that imply its a smart thing to do.

Not limited to cats, I promise you. Figured it out last Saturday, and it's definately cheaper. It's fun, relaxing and ver similar to marijuana. But I suppose it all depends on the person, really. Try it out(:

after reading many of the comments on this ? I decided to try it out for myself and can honestly say that after smoking a j mixed 1/2 & 1/2 w/tobacco & catnip I don't feel normal .. I don't feel like i smoked pot but I certainly don't feel normal...

To the contrary Mr. Hicks, we know exactly why cats behave the way they do when exposed to Catnip: When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they may roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, often salivating copiously. Some cats will also growl and meow. The cause is that Catnip contains nepetalactone, a terpene. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip using steam distillation. Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium. At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone is hypothesized to bind to one or more olfactory receptors where it mimics a cat pheromone, such as the hypothetical feline facial pheromone or the cat urine odorant MMB.
We are researching it's effect on humans and all we've been getting is positive results so far. 1 out of 10 men is immune to the euphoric mime, you must be that one. So to answer your question "HungryGuy": Yes; A human can get high by smoking, injecting and inhaling catnip and a liquid nepta extract.
Our research of the effects of catnip will soon venture over to avid Marijuana smokers to see if it has any effect on a person of that type. Our research is Cancer patients mainly, some of our test subjects are familiar with Marijuana and say the effects are similar, but not quite on the money. Catnip is a hopeful for the replacement of medical Marijuana.

Quite to the contrary Mr. Hicks, we do know why Cats have the reaction they do to Catnip, or Nepta:
When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they may roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, often salivating copiously. Some cats will also growl and meow. The cause is that Catnip contains nepetalactone, a terpene. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip using steam distillation. Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium. At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone is hypothesized to bind to one or more olfactory receptors where it mimics a cat pheromone, such as the hypothetical feline facial pheromone or the cat urine odorant MMB.
We are researching it's effect on humans and all we've been getting is positive results so far. 1 out of 10 men is immune to the euphoric mime, you must be that one. So to answer your question "HungryGuy": Yes; A human can get high by smoking, injecting and inhaling catnip and a liquid nepta extract.

Firstly, to the user Jon Hicks, I would suggest that you check your facts before you post an answer to a question such as this, as you are spouting absolute nonsense.

Humans can, in fact, get an effect from catnip - it does in fact have herbal medicinal uses.

When made into a tea, it can be used in a topical poultice to reduce the swelling in soft tissue injuries and arthiritis. It also has a sedative effect (varying with strength of the tea). For instance - I often use it in conjunction with Melatonin capsules to relieve my insomnia.

Also, some reports suggest that when taken in larger amounts (smoked or drank), it can produce mild hallucinogenic effects and a feeling of being "high".

So in short - yes, you can get get high from smoking catnip. But it is not the same high as cannabis or other drugs, as with most different substances it has a different type of high to itself.


References can be given on this reply if requested.

Leaves of this mint herb were used in a tea by the early Europeans for cramps, aches, fevers and fits. They also chewed on the leaf for headache relief. The Chinese used it for chest complaints and believed it attracted good spirits and happiness. Catnip was the beverage of choice in Europe before tea was introduced from Asia. And believe it or not, it was even smoked to treat asthma and bronchitis!

Catnip is smoked for mild euphoria (unfortunately catnip seems to be more potent mixed with tobacco - but as with cats some humans are more affected than others with excitement and some giggling!)

Catnip is a good herb for reducing consumption of cannabis and/or tobacco. Catnip actually potentiates cannabis, in other words, less cannabis is smoked to get high. Known as nature's 'Alka-Seltzer' for its usefulness in settling upset stomachs and indigestion, catnip tea can also prevent a cold coming on when taken immediately after the first symptoms (sore throat) appear. Catnip is also extremely useful for fevers (including sleep and enabling free perspiration without increasing body heat) and aches and pains due to flu. Catnip tea works marvelously for period pain as well as nausea.

Bibliography: Happy High Herbs - Third Revised Edition