The curiosity surrounding catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is understandable given its dramatic, well-documented effect on domestic felines. This herbaceous plant, a member of the mint family, is famous for turning a calm housecat into a playful, rolling enthusiast for a brief period. The question of whether this same plant can produce an effect in humans when smoked often arises from its known psychoactivity in animals. While catnip has a long history of use in human herbal traditions, the experience for a person is fundamentally different from the euphoric response seen in a cat.
The Chemistry Behind Catnip
The profound reaction in cats stems from a single chemical compound produced by the plant: nepetalactone. This compound is synthesized in the glandular trichomes on the catnip plant’s leaves and stems. When a cat sniffs or chews the plant, the volatile nepetalactone is released and binds to receptors in the cat’s nasal tissue. This interaction triggers a response in the olfactory bulb that stimulates the amygdala and hypothalamus, leading to the characteristic behavioral changes. The mechanism is similar to a pheromone, resulting in a temporary, instinctual, and non-addictive high.
Humans, however, lack the specific vomeronasal organ receptors that allow nepetalactone to trigger this pheromone-like response. The compound does not strongly interact with human neurochemistry in the same way, meaning the powerful euphoric or hallucinogenic effects seen in cats are completely absent in people. Traditional herbalists have long used catnip for its mild properties, often brewing it into a tea to encourage relaxation. The subtle effect in humans is thought to relate to the plant’s potential influence on GABAergic pathways, which are responsible for reducing central nervous system activity.
What Happens When Catnip is Smoked
When dried catnip is combusted and inhaled, the effects on a human are generally reported as extremely mild, fleeting, and non-psychoactive in the conventional sense. Smoking the herb does not produce an intoxicating high comparable to cannabis or other controlled substances, despite historical rumors from the 1960s. The primary sensations reported by those who have experimented with it are a slight, short-lived sense of calm and mild sedation. This sensation is often likened to the effects of drinking a relaxing herbal tea, such as chamomile.
Some users describe a gentle warming sensation in the body or a feeling of overall tranquility without any significant mental alteration or euphoria. The effects are not only subtle but also short-lived, typically fading within minutes. Due to the lack of a known psychoactive receptor in the human brain, the limited effect is largely attributed to the plant’s mild sedative properties or perhaps a placebo response. It is important to note that the experience is highly variable, with many people reporting no noticeable effect beyond the harshness of inhaling smoke.
Safety and Legal Status
Catnip is generally considered safe for human consumption in its typical forms, such as tea, and it is entirely legal and unregulated across the United States and most Western countries. The lack of a strong psychoactive component means it is not listed as a controlled substance. However, smoking any plant material carries inherent risks related to the inhalation of combustion byproducts. The smoke contains tar, fine particulate matter, and various irritants that can damage the lungs and throat lining.
Potential side effects specific to catnip, whether smoked or consumed in high doses, are typically mild but can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, or increased drowsiness. These effects are usually temporary and indicate that a person has ingested or inhaled too much of the herb. Due to its mild sedative qualities, individuals should avoid operating heavy machinery if they experience any degree of sleepiness after use. The plant itself poses no known risk of dependency or severe long-term toxicity, but the act of smoking creates an exposure risk to respiratory irritants and carcinogens common to all forms of smoke inhalation.