What is Pennyroyal?
The use of pennyroyal in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Pennyroyal is also known as Mentha pulegium, pulegium, American pennyroyal, run-by-the-ground, lurk-in-the-ditch, pudding grass, piliolerial, mosquito plant, squaw balm, and squawmint tickweed. Pennyroyal has been used for digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder disorders, gout, colds, increased urination, as an insect repellant, to induce menstruation, and topically for skin diseases. Since the use of pennyroyal oil has been associated with serious, even fatal, liver and kidney damage, oral or topical use of pennyroyal oil is generally not recomm
Pennyroyal is the common name for two different plants, the American Hedeoma pulegioides and European Mentha pulegium. Both plants are in the family Lamiaceae, or mint, which includes a wide assortment of plants which are useful medicinally and for cooking. Pennyroyal, however, contains a toxin called pulegone, which is extremely dangerous for the liver and kidneys. Despite folklore surrounding pennyroyal’s potential medical applications, it is not safe to ingest, especially in the form of essential oil. Both pennyroyal plants have small opposite oblate leaves on long stems which are capped with blue to purple flowers. European pennyroyal has a more trailing growth habit, while American pennyroyal tends to grow upright. Both plants have a strong and distinctive oder, and can be used fresh, dried, or pressed for the essential oil, which is potent and very pungent. The plant is often used as an herbaceous border, especially in gardens for the blind, as the strong scent helps them find th
The use of pennyroyal in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Pennyroyal is also known as Mentha pulegium, pulegium, American pennyroyal, run-by-the-ground, lurk-in-the-ditch, pudding grass, piliolerial, mosquito plant, squaw balm, and squawmint tickweed. Pennyroyal has been used for digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder disorders, gout, colds, increased urination, as an insect repellant, to induce menstruation, and topically for skin diseases.
Both plants are members of the mint family and both are referred to as pennyroyal. H. pulegioides (American pennyroyal) grows in woods through most of the northern and eastern US and Canada while M. pulegium is found in parts of Europe. Pennyroyal is a perennial, creeping herb with small, lilac flowers at the stem ends. The leaves are grayish green and, like other mint family members, very aromatic.
