Indian catnip

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Indian catnip (often Anisomeles indica or related Lamiaceae species) is an aromatic herb used in South and Southeast Asian traditional medicine for digestive complaints, fevers, and skin conditions.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Traditional uses

Mixed Evidence

Preclinical antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory data exist but no robust human clinical trials support specific claims.

How it works

The plant contains diterpenes (anisomelic acid), flavonoids, and essential oils. Preclinical research reports anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activity. Human clinical data is sparse. Topical and oral traditional preparations are described in ethnobotanical literature, but Western clinical trials are essentially absent.

Dosage

No standardized dose. Traditional preparations use the dried herb in decoction or as oil applications.

When and how to take it

No established timing. Take with food if oral.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Whole herb extract

Available from specialty herbal suppliers.

Limited PK data.

Safety

Limited modern safety data. Traditional use suggests reasonable tolerability for short-term use; long-term safety unknown.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of safety data.

Interactions

Insufficient data on drug interactions.

Food sources

Not a food source

Amount
N/A
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is Indian catnip related to regular catnip?⌄

Both are in the Lamiaceae (mint) family but are different species. Indian catnip (Anisomeles) is used in traditional medicine; regular catnip (Nepeta cataria) is famous for affecting cats.

References

Indian catnip on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Indian catnip (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.