As an herb, there are medicinal attributes. Here's what it says in Louise Tenney's book, "Today's Herbal Health".

Catnip has been called nature's "Alka-Seltzer." The Indians used it for infant colic, but it also has a sedative effect on the nervous system. It is useful for many ailments" for all cases of fevers for its action in inducing sleep and in producing perspiration without increasing heat in the body. In children it is said to speedily overcome convulsions. It is also good for restlessness and colic and as a pain killer, especially for small children and infants. It has been known to help prevent a cold when drinking a warm infusion when you notice the first symptom. It helps in fatigue and improves circulation. It is said to help to prevent miscarriages and premature births. It helps in aches and pain due to flu and upset stomach and diarrhea associated with flu.

Catnip is high in vitamins A and C, and the B-complex vitamins. It contains magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, and a trace of sulphur.
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-I would caution using it on a regular basis since many herbals can cause liver toxins and even liver damage. I have an acquaintance who did herbal studies as a medical scientist this with a number of herbs and herbal blends on liver damage.

-Dry it in the oven with the light on, between two layers of paper towels, rather than in the microwave if you don't have a dehydrator. Dry at a low temperature - 90-100°F. High-temp. drying will destroy many of the vitamins.

-It is also suggested catnip be administered in the morning and evening.

-If you take any Rx drugs or OTC medicines, check with a pharmacists for any possible drug interactions.

-The tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering heads and is generally recognized as safe to use, plus it has a pleasant taste. There is one caution using it from a contemporary herbalist, Michael Moore. In general, "[catnip] may act to increase menstrual flow to varying degrees," so pregnant women should NOT use it. It can also cause spotting.

-Harvesting: Gather the leaves and tops in late summer when the plant is in full bloom, and dry them carefully. Remove the tough stalks. Store in a dry place, away from light and heat.

-If smoked, physicians have reported that catnip "was indeed mildly pshchoactive".

-Culinary uses: as a salad ingredient

-Catnip Tea: A standard beverage in England, where it is grown commercially, before the introduction of tea from China.

To make catnip tea: Pour boiling water over the dried leaves/flowers and let it steep. Euell Gibbons [of the Grapenuts commercials fame decades ago] advised using a little more catnip per cup than you would ordinary tea. He also cautioned that catnip's flavor and aroma are very volatile, so he sat a saucer over his cup to "protect" his tea while it steeped.

Euell Gibbons made candied catnip leaves to serve at the end of a meal, as a digestive aid or an after-dinner mint. His recipe calls for dipping catnip leaves into a mixture of beaten egg white and lemon juice. Then he sprinkled each side with sugar and let them dry for a day or so. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. [Grainlady note: use reconstituted powdered egg whites, or pasteurized egg whites in a carton, for food safety since the egg white isn't cooked.]

-Grainlady

Thanks for the in-depth information, as usual Grainlady! I'm not one to take herbal teas, I don't like flavoured teas. Good ol' Tetley is my tea of choice. This intrigued me somewhat since my neighbour enjoys it. I'll try a mug in the next couple of days and see how I like it, remembering to cover the mug.

Has anyone ever made some for themselves?

Not really. However, when I was very young, my French 'aunt' used to serve afternoon tea which was often an infusion of lemon verbena or sometimes lemon balm. I never managed to grow lemon verbena, but once grown, lemon balm is hard to get rid of, and I have often served lemon balm tea as a fresh infusion with boiling water as my 'aunt' did.

I grew catnip one year. It is in the mint family. It didn't grow all that well and I only had it around for one year. When crushed, it seemed to me to be very similar to the other mints and I couldn't see why cats would find it any different from the other mints, but of course I'm not a cat. I assumed that it would make a similar tea, but I never got enough to use it that way. When I googled catnip, 'catnip tea' was the second option, so it must be a common use.

edit: I never read Gibbons, but my aunt and I always made the 'tea' in a covered tea pot.

I love black tea, but unfortunately, I can't drink it anymore due to a urinary tract issue. Anyway, the two kinds of tea I can drink are mint and chamomile. I don't like mints like peppermint and spearmint. I do like catnip, it's not as minty. It has the opposite effect on humans as it does on cats, it's calming for humans. Is also good mixed with chamomile. In fact, I think Celestial Seasons "Sleepytime" tea was a mix of the two, or at least it used to be. Not sure anymore.

I used to drink it a lot as a relaxing tea before bed - mixed w/ lavender & chamomile. That was when it grew & reseeded itself abundantly in my yard. It has since died out & since my cat is completely disinterested in catnip, I haven't had any around for a long time.

I have a few leaves in the cupboard that are completely dried now. I'm going to try a mug of tea this evening. I'm hoping to just brew the whole leaves, as I don't have a little ball.

Never had it on its own. Just noticed it in some herbal blends. The last thing i need is 'sleepy time'. I sleep hard. Not much of a daytime napper either.

MountainRoseHerb has similar info posted by grainlady. https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/catnip/profile

I have this one but i often add a green tea bag to it. https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/quiet-child-tea/profile

Really like their Rooibos red tea.

I've tried some twig teas at work and they taste like 'twigs'. Dried grass and dust. lol. In a blend i can see the medicinal qualities being mixed with something minty or floral for flavor. Love hibiscus and rose hips with green tea. DH hates it. (the hibiscus). He does not care for any mint either.

I switch to teas after morning coffee so i've tried so many blends the past few years. I tend to be a bit cautious with some of them. They can be harmful if one variety becomes a favorite and consumed too often.

Catnip tea is also a time-honored remedy for gas/colic/cramps...

Jasdip, don't forget to dry out a jar's worth for your furry friends. Once dried just put it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. You don't have to give the fuzzy ones the catnip to consume, just let them sniff it a bit and they'll thank you for a long time since it'll be around. One of the best treats I had when mine was alive. I'd open the jar and she'd slam her face against it to try to get in. Usually 3-4 times then, presumably a little dizzy, she'd try to reach in but I think her depth perception was off by then so she'd have trouble grabbing some. But she knew the jar when I'd grab it to open it up. It also works well to "recharge" catnip toys or make a toy. Put it in the jar for a while and it'll absorb some of the herbal goodness.

I tried some on Sat nite. It didn't taste as bad as I feared. :-)

I don't have an infuser ball so I steeped it in my teapot and poured it through a strainer into my mug. Worked like a charm. I heard a noise, and Bud had jumped onto the counter, he smelled the tea brewing!

Cynic, oh yeah, the kids get the real catnip!! I just bring it in the apartment and they're all over me. They'll eat it fresh or dried. Roxie, not as much as the other two, but the boys go squirrelly for it.

I keep the tried in a yogurt container and if I don't put it away right away, Bud will paw at it trying to get the lid off. There are teeth marks on the lid!

Their soft mouse gets rolled in it regularly.

This is Bud letting me know that he wants his catnip (it's in the cupboard)