Natures Aspirin Tincture
Catnip leaf is well known for its gentle and calming properties and has been employed in traditional folk herbalism for centuries. Considered the ultimate feline herb, cats have been going crazy over catnip for ages. While the plant tends to make cats spunky, it has a calming effect on humans.
Nepeta cataria is a gray-green perennial with the square stems and terminal flower spikes typical of the mint or Lamiaceae family. It has fuzzy, toothed, heart-shaped leaves and small fragrant pink to white flowers, growing 2 to 3 feet tall. Native to the dry and temperate Mediterranean zones throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, catnip is now widely naturalized throughout the world.
In traditional European herbalism and American folk herbalism, catnip was prized for its historical use to calm occasional nervousness and promote restful sleep. Considered useful for children and elders due to its gentle nature, it was often used to support healthy digestion for all ages. Traditional Native American healing practices valued the herb in children’s complaints and considered it to be a general tonic amongst other uses. Today, some herbalists consider this herb when balancing physical manifestations of “gut level” emotional issues. Typical preparations of catnip herb include as an extract, external wash, and infusion. The leaves are oftentimes harvested, dried, and steeped as relaxing catnip tea or added as a component of herbal tea blends.
Our catnip tincture is made from fresh organic aerial portions of the plant and is macerated in small batches in Boulder, Colorado. Catnip extract is slightly bitter but generally mild in taste. It can be taken directly on the tongue or added to water or juice. Catnip tincture can be combined with a range of other extracts like chamomile extract or fennel extract to create a personalized blend. Try adding a squirt of catnip extract to tea throughout the day or in the evening. Catnip extract compliments a range of teas but we especially like it in easy day tea, fairytale tea, and happy tummy tea.
White willow is a low-growing deciduous tree with long, green, tapering leaves and grey-brown bark. Native to Europe and western Asia, white willow bark has a long history of use in traditional European herbalism. Salix alba is typically tinctured or steeped as willow bark tea.
Native to North America, northern Asia, and much of Africa, the willow is a low-growing deciduous tree bearing long, green, tapering leaves and catkins in spring. Bark is stripped from young trees in the spring. Native American healers used willow bark long before Columbus or the Vikings landed. The conversion of willow bark to aspirin began in 1828 when German chemist Felix Hoffmann isolated the active ingredient and named it salicin. In 1899, the Bayer company began manufacturing and selling a modified form of the willow bark chemical acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin. This first of the modern miracle medicines has been a mainstay in the treatment of joint pain ever since. White willow (also called bai liu pi in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is a member of the Salicaceae family.
Ingredients
Organic alcohol, water, and fresh organic catnip aerial portions.
Precautions
Do not use if allergic to aspirin or other salicylate-containing drugs. Do not administer to children or adolescents with viral infections due to the possibility of Reye's syndrome. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.