Cattleman Isfahan

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Isfahan cattle (lat. Nepeta ispahanica) - treatment plant; a representative of the Kotovnik genus of the Yasnotkovye family. In nature, it is distributed in Central Asia. Other names are fragrant shandra, catnip, cat grass, forest beauty, shenda, field mint, shanta. For the first time, they learned about the properties of catnip during the reign of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. As is known from history, the pharaohs worshiped felines, since they considered them to be relatives of the deity Bast. To respect cats, and therefore their patron saint, the pharaohs fed their pets with catnip.

Characteristics of culture

The Isfahan catnip is represented by annual herbaceous plants, not exceeding 15-20 cm in height. They are characterized by straight or ascending stems, covered over the entire surface with dense white hairs. Stem stem foliage heart-shaped or ovoid, with a rounded or sunken tip, pubescent with grayish woolly hairs.

The flowers are small, purple, collected in half whorls, which, in turn, form apical capitate, spherical or cylindrical inflorescences. The fruits are represented by nuts carrying multiple seeds. By the way, seeds are rarely propagated at present, although their germination is very good.

The foliage and stem of the Isfahan catnip are fragrant, have a bitter taste, but when stored for a long time, the smell completely evaporates, and the bitter taste becomes less pronounced. Despite the slight bitterness, foliage and the upper part of the stems are used in cooking. Most often as a seasoning for fish dishes, but also the Isfahan catnip is used in meat delicacies and when pickling vegetables.

How to collect and store raw materials?

The catnip forms lush bushes in the process of growth, especially in the second and third years. The harvest from them turns out to be unusually large. Harvesting is carried out during flowering, usually from June to early October. Collecting raw materials is very simple: just cut off the top of the bush, put it to dry in a dry, ventilated room, it is better to hang it. The main thing is to prevent rotting.

As soon as the raw material acquires a marshy shade with a grayish tint, it is packaged in fabric bags and stored in a dry, dark place. It is desirable to store raw materials for 1-1.5 years, after which the raw materials begin to lose their useful properties and lose their smell.

Application in medicine

The Isfahan catnip is famous for its high medicinal properties due to the high content of essential oils and minerals. Infusions, decoctions and teas from the plant, in addition to medicinal properties, serve as the prevention of many diseases. Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulating and hemostatic properties are especially clearly traced.

Isfahan catnik is recommended for the treatment of pain in the gastrointestinal tract, stress and depression, migraine, pain during menstruation in women. It is also effective against edema, inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, severe cough, hysterical seizures, apathy, poor appetite, flatulence, diarrhea, insomnia, seizures, tonsillitis and other diseases of the respiratory system.

Tea with catnip Isfahan is recommended for acute respiratory viral infections and colds, toothache for rinsing, increased intestinal acidity, worms, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, dystrophy, anemia, eczema, scabies, open wounds on the skin, furunculosis and diabetes mellitus. And by the way, tea can be drunk not only for adults, but also for children. Traditional healers recommend drinking it to children who do not sleep well, are anxious, scared or hyperactive.