Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Catnip vs Marjoram
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Catnip and Marjoram: both belong to the Lamiaceae family; they share 8 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, bloating, indigestion, …); 4 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Catnip | Marjoram | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Bloating | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Indigestion | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Infection (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Insomnia / sleeplessness | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Wounds | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
The characteristic volatile iridoid responsible for the cat-attractant effect and studied for sedative, antimicrobial and insect-repellent activity.
Rich in nepetalactone isomers along with other monoterpenes; studied for antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
The volatile oil, dominated by terpinen-4-ol and cis-sabinene hydrate in true sweet marjoram, gives most of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
Contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Pregnancy: Do not use (traditional concern around stimulating menstruation/uterus) (Health Canada, n.d.). Breastfeeding: Health Canada advises talk to a healthcare professional first (Health Canada, n.d.). Kids: It’s often described as a “gentle” traditional tea, but large amounts are not a good idea—there’s a published case where a toddler became very sleepy/“slowed down” after consuming a lot. Keep catnip tea away from toddlers unless a clinician advises it (Osterhoudt et al., 1997). Sedatives / alcohol: Catnip can be calming, so don’t stack it with other sedating herbs/sleep meds/alcohol (you could get extra drowsy) (WebMD, n.d.a). Essential oil caution: Catnip essential oil is concentrated. Research notes it may cause mild skin irritation for some people—always dilute, patch test, and never treat it like “tea.” (Reichert et al., 2019)
Duke (2002) describes catnip primarily as a sedative, diaphoretic, and emmenagogue with experimental (score 1) support. It has demonstrated uterotonic and oxytocic activity, making it contraindicated in pregnancy. The active compounds include nepetalactone and iridoids. Catnip is classified as a mild nervine and antispasmodic in traditional North American herbal medicine, though clinical trials are lacking. Due to its emmenagogue and uterotonic properties, medicinal-dose use should be avoided during pregnancy (Duke, 2002).
Generally very safe as a culinary herb. Essential oil should not be ingested in large amounts and avoided in pregnancy. Theoretically may interact with anticoagulants. Avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy.
Duke (2002) rates marjoram (Origanum majorana) as +++ and notes antiviral, antispasmodic, COX-2 inhibitory, and antiseptic activities at the experimental level (score 1). It demonstrates antiherpetic activity in vitro. The plant contains rosmarinic acid and thymol, which contribute to antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Dose: 1–2 g dried herb as tea three times daily or equivalent preparations. Duke notes the plant is generally well-tolerated with no significant contraindications at usual herbal doses (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Perennial herb, 30-100 cm tall, with greyish-green, downy, square stems typical of the mint family. Leaves are opposite, triangular-ovate with scalloped or toothed margins, grey-green above and softly felted (whitish) beneath, releasing a minty-lemony aroma when crushed. Small white flowers, spotted with purple or pink, are borne in dense terminal and axillary spikes. Nepetalactone, the volatile compound famous for its effect on cats, is concentrated in glandular hairs on the leaves and stems.[9]
Tender perennial subshrub (Lamiaceae), often grown as an annual in cold climates, 20-60 cm tall, with square, downy, much-branched stems. Leaves are opposite, small, grey-green and ovate. Tiny white to pale pink, two-lipped flowers are borne in distinctive knot-like clustered spikes, the origin of the common name 'knotted marjoram'.[6]
Habitat
Native to Europe and temperate Asia and widely naturalised in North America; grows on disturbed, sunny ground - roadsides, waste places, hedgebanks and dry, calcareous or well-drained soils.[9]
Native to Cyprus, Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, and widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb in gardens worldwide; prefers full sun and well-drained, often calcareous soils.[6]
Harvesting
The aerial flowering parts are cut just before or at flowering (summer), when essential-oil content is highest, and dried quickly in a warm, shaded, well-ventilated place.[9]
Traditional Uses
Catnip has a long North American and European folk-medicine history as a mild sedative/nervine, diaphoretic (fever-reducing, sweat-promoting) remedy, carminative digestive and traditional emmenagogue; it was also given as a children's tea for colic and restlessness, though large amounts are not advised for young children and it is traditionally avoided in pregnancy.[9]
Marjoram has a long Mediterranean culinary-medicinal tradition as a digestive carminative and mild sedative for indigestion, cramping and poor sleep, and as an antiseptic for minor wounds and infections. Modern research confirms antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity from its essential oil and phenolic constituents.[6, 8]
Preparations
Dosage
Health Canada's NNHPD monograph gives 1.2-12 g of dried herb top per day for adults 18 years and older, with infusion among the accepted methods of preparation. Educational reference only, not a prescription. Keep away from toddlers and young children beyond very small amounts, and avoid medicinal-dose use in pregnancy.
References
Drug Class Interactions
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
- Geissler, M., Neubauer, C., Sheludko, Y.V. and Warzecha, H (2024) 'Nepeta cataria L. (catnip) can serve as a chassis for the engineering of secondary metabolic pathways', Biotechnology Letters, 46(5), pp. 843-850. doi:10.1007/s10529-024-03489-w Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-024-03489-w - Lockhart, A., Simon, J.E. and Wu, Q (2024) 'Stability study of Nepeta cataria iridoids analyzed by LC/MS', Phytochemical Analysis, 35(7), pp. 1674-1687. doi:10.1002/pca.3410 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.3410 - Nadeem, A., Shahzad, H., Ahmed, B., Muntean, T. and others (2022) 'Phytochemical profiling of antimicrobial and potential antioxidant plant: Nepeta cataria', Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, pp. 969316. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.969316 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.969316 - Tan, J., Li, J., Ma, J. and Qiao, F (2019) 'Hepatoprotective effect of essential oils of Nepeta cataria L. on acetaminophen-induced liver dysfunction', Bioscience Reports, 39(8), pp. BSR20190697. doi:10.1042/BSR20190697 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20190697 - Mollova, S., Dzhurmanski, A., Fidan, H., Bojilov, D. and others (2023) 'Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Nepeta cataria L. Cultivated in Bulgaria and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity', ACS Omega, 8(17), pp. 15441-15449. doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c00704 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c00704 - Reichert, W., Ejercito, J., Guda, T., Dong, X. and others (2019) 'Repellency Assessment of Nepeta cataria Essential Oils and Isolated Nepetalactones on Aedes aegypti', Scientific Reports, 9(1), pp. 1524. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36814-1 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36814-1 - Tiwari, G., Chaturvedi, T., Gupta, A.K., Lal, R.K. and others (2023) 'Assessment of Genetic Diversity, Micromorphology and Antimicrobial Activity in Nepeta cataria L', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 20(2), pp. e202200241. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202200241 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200241 - Giarratana, F., Muscolino, D., Ziino, G., Lo Presti, V. and others (2017) 'Activity of Catmint (Nepeta cataria) essential oil against Anisakis larvae', Tropical Biomedicine, 34(1), pp. 22-31. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33592976/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33592976/ - Sarkar, M., Rashmi, R., Vikramaditya and Varma, P.N (1995) 'Pharmacognosy of Nepeta cataria', Ancient Science of Life, 14(4), pp. 225-234. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22556702/ Traditional / reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22556702/ - Bernardi, M.M., Kirsten, T.B., Lago, J.H.G., Giovani, T.M. and Massoco, C.O (2011) 'Nepeta cataria L. var. citriodora (Becker) increases penile erection in rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 137(3), pp. 1318-1322. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.061 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.061 - Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2026) 'Natural Health Product Monograph: Catnip - Nepeta cataria'. Available at: https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_catnip_english.pdf Traditional / reference
https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_catnip_english.pdf - British Herbal Medicine Association (1983) 'British Herbal Pharmacopoeia'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=British%20Herbal%20Pharmacopoeia - Gilani, A.H., Shah, A.J., Zubair, A., Khalid, S., Kiani, J., Ahmed, A., Rasheed, M. and Ahmad, V.U (2009) 'Chemical composition and mechanisms underlying the spasmolytic and bronchodilatory properties of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria L', 121(3), pp. 405--411. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.11.004 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.11.004 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
- Rehman, N.U., Ansari, M.N., Ahmad, W. and Ali, A (2024) 'Calcium Channel Inhibitory Effect of Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.): Its Medicinal Use in Diarrhea and Gut Hyperactivity', Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition), 29(2), pp. 47. doi:10.31083/j.fbl2902047 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2902047 - Hussein, Z. and Yasir, S.M (2022) 'Origanum majorana attenuates ciprofloxacin-induced nephropathy in rats', Wiadomosci Lekarskie, 75(12), pp. 3046-3049. doi:10.36740/WLek202212126 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.36740/WLek202212126 - Elfiky, A.M., Ibrahim, R.S., Khattab, A.R., Kadry, M.O. and others (2025) 'Exploring the therapeutic potential of marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) in polycystic ovary syndrome: insights from serum metabolomics, network pharmacology and experimental validation', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 25(1), pp. 67. doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04774-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04774-5 - Waller, S.B., Cleff, M.B., de Mattos, C.B., da Silva, C.C. and others (2021) 'Protection of the marjoram (Origanum majorana Linn.) essential oil in cutaneous sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis', Natural Product Research, 35(17), pp. 2977-2981. doi:10.1080/14786419.2019.1678617 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2019.1678617 - Haj-Husein, I., Tukan, S. and Alkazaleh, F (2016) 'The effect of marjoram (Origanum majorana) tea on the hormonal profile of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised controlled pilot study', Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 29(1), pp. 105-111. doi:10.1111/jhn.12290 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12290 - Bouyahya, A., Chamkhi, I., Benali, T., Guaouguaou, F.E. and others (2021) 'Traditional use, phytochemistry, toxicology, and pharmacology of Origanum majorana L', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 265, pp. 113318. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113318 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113318 - Al-Howiriny, T., Alsheikh, A., Alqasoumi, S., Al-Yahya, M. and others (2009) 'Protective Effect of Origanum majorana L. 'Marjoram' on various models of gastric mucosal injury in rats', The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 37(3), pp. 531-545. doi:10.1142/S0192415X0900703X Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X0900703X - Bina, F. and Rahimi, R (2017) 'Sweet Marjoram: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities', Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(1), pp. 175-185. doi:10.1177/2156587216650793 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587216650793 - Paudel, P.N., Satyal, P., Satyal, R., Setzer, W.N. and others (2022) 'Chemical Composition, Enantiomeric Distribution, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Origanum majorana L. Essential Oil from Nepal', Molecules, 27(18), pp. 6136. doi:10.3390/molecules27186136 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27186136 - Makrane, H., Aziz, M., Mekhfi, H., Ziyyat, A. and others (2019) 'Origanum majorana L. extract exhibit positive cooperative effects on the main mechanisms involved in acute infectious diarrhea', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 239, pp. 111503. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.09.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.09.005 - Baser, K.H.C (2008) 'Biological and pharmacological activities of carvacrol and carvacrol bearing essential oils', 14(29), pp. 3106--3119. doi:10.2174/138161208786404227 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.2174/138161208786404227 - Hoffmann, D (2003) 'Medical Herbalism'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Medical%20Herbalism - Seidler-Lozykowska, K. et al (2016) 'Essential oil content and composition of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) grown in Poland', 62(1), pp. 37--45. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Essential%20oil%20content%20and%20composition%20of%20sweet%20marjoram%20%28Origanum%20majorana%20L.%29%20grown%20in%20Poland - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.