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Schizonepeta tenuifolia

Japanese cat nip is a plant whose parts that grow above the ground are used as medicine. Japanese catnip is used to treat colds, fevers, sore throats and heavy menstrual periods. Japanese catnip is also used on the skin to treat skin conditions including eczema, allergic rashes and psoriasis.

How does Japanese catnip work?

Japanese catnip contains chemicals that may help with some skin conditions such as psoriasis.

How effective is Japanese catnip?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Japanese catnip for eczema. Scientific studies have come to different conclusions. Some studies show that Japanese catnip in combination with 9 other plants could reduce redness and inflammation. However, other studies showed no effect.

There is also insufficient scientific information on the effectiveness of Japanese catnip for colds, fevers, sore throats, psoriasis and heavy menstrual bleeding. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Japanese catnip in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Japanese catnip appears to be safe and harmless for most people when used in low doses. When used in high doses, a chemical contained in Japanese catnip could damage the liver.

Precautions and warnings:

Pregnancy and lactation: not enough is known about the use of Japanese catnip during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid Japanese catnip.

Liver disorders: There are concerns that Japanese catnip may aggravate liver disorders. For this reason, Japanese catnip should not be used if you suffer from liver disease.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of Japanese catnip with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Japanese catnip depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Japanese catnip. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

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  2. Fung AY, Look PC, Chong LY, et al. A controlled trial of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in Chinese patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. Int J Dermatol 1999;38:387-92 .
  3. Fung D, Lau CB. Schizonepeta tenuifolia: chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications. J Clin Pharmacol 2002;42:30-6.
  4. Kirby AJ, Schmidt RJ. The antioxidant activity of Chinese herbs for eczema and of placebo herbs--I. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;56:103-8.
  5. Lin R, Tian J, Huang G, et al. Analysis of menthol in three traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and their compound formulation by GC-MS. Biomed Chromatogr 2002;16:229-33.
  6. Liu HN, Jaw SK, Wong CK. Chinese herbs and atopic dermatitis. Lancet 1993;342:1175-6.
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  9. Shin TY, Jeong HJ, Jun SM, et al. Effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia extract on mast cell-mediated immediate-type hypersensitivity in rats. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 1999;21:705-15.
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