Catnip is great for calming the system

If you have ever had a baby or small child with the colic, then you will appreciate the valuable information about this remedy. I had a son with colic that lasted for almost two years. During the first six months, sleep came only in shifts because his little body was racked with cramps and gas that made him shriek in pain. My nerves were wrecked over my anxiety for my tiny son's suffering.

Fortunately, I had an old country doctor who believed in home remedies. The doc told me to give my son a formula of catnip and fennel in drops every few hours until his symptoms subsided. It was a life saver. Now my son still had bouts with colic so I had to work on eliminating foods from our diets one at a time in hopes of finding the problem foods. Since I was breastfeeding, it was crucial that I alter my diet as well.

In later years, I discovered catnip in the raw form. I steeped it to brew a tea that was warming and pleasant tasting. It has a very green taste that is not very minty and mildly bitter. I found it best to drink unsweetened for best results.