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| Pennyroyal | ||||||||||||||
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| Mentha pulegium L. |
The herb Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium, family Lamiaceae), is a member of the mint genus; an essential oil extracted from it is used in aromatherapy. Crushed Pennyroyal leaves and foliage exhibit a very strong spearmint fragrance. Pennyroyal is a traditional folk medicine, poison and abortifacient. This oil is high in pulegone, a highly toxic volatile organic compound, which harms the liver and can stimulate uterine activity.
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Uses
Since the U.S. Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in October 1994, all manufactured forms of pennyroyal have carried a warning label against its use by pregnant women. This substance is not regulated by the FDA.[1]
Pennyroyal essential oil is extremely concentrated, it should not ever be taken internally because it is highly toxic; even in small doses, the poison can lead to death. Complications have been reported from attempts to use the oil for self-induced abortion. The oil can be used for aromatherapy, a bath additive and as an insect repellent. There are numerous studies that show pennyroyal's toxicity to humans and animals.[2][3][4][5]
Pennyroyal tea is the use of an infusion made from the herb, the infusion is widely reputed as safe to ingest in restricted quantities. It has been traditionally employed and reportedly successful as an emmenagogue (menstrual flow stimulant) or as an abortifacient. In 1994 a young woman died from an undetected ectopic pregnancy while performing a self-induced abortion using pennyroyal tea, reports say that she had consumed the tea for longer than the recommended time length of five days.[6][1] The most popular current use of the tea is to settle the stomach. Other reported medicinal uses through history include fainting, flatulence, gall ailments, gout, hepatitis (presumably Hepatitis A), a lung cleanser, a gum strengthener and, when ground with vinegar, a tumor remedy, although there is little to no medical evidence on any of these treatments.
Dried pennyroyal should not be used as a natural flea repellent due to its toxicity to pets, even at extremely low levels.[7]
See also
- Hedeoma pulegioides — American Pennyroyal, distantly related species
- "Pennyroyal Tea" (1993), grunge rock song by Nirvana
- Aristophanes made reference to pennyroyal as abortifacient in Lysistrata and Peace
- Mari Sandoz writes in her book, Slogum House, "She was the fifth of twelve children in the river-bottom family, with a mother who laid the cards and brewed tansy, pennyroyal and like concoctions for luckless girls who were in need."
References
- ^ a b Natural Standard Research Collaboration (2008-02-01). "American pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides L.), European pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.)". Natural Standard. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
- ^ Anderson, Ilene B.; Sidney D. Nelson and Paul D. Blanc (February 1997). "Pennyroyal Metabolites in Human Poisoning". Annals of Internal Medicine 126 (3): 250–251. PMID 9027280. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
- ^ Anderson, Ilene B.; Walter H. Mullen; James E. Meeker; Siamak C. Khojasteh-Bakht; Shimako Oishi; Sidney D. Nelson; and Paul D. Blanc (April 1996). "Pennyroyal Toxicity: Measurement of Toxic Metabolite Levels in Two Cases and Review of the Literature". Annals of Internal Medicine 124 (8): 726–734. PMID 8633832. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
- ^ Bakerink, James A.; Sidney M. Gospe Jr; Robert J. Dimand; and Marlowe W. Eldridge (November 1996). "Multiple Organ Failure After Ingestion of Pennyroyal Oil From Herbal Tea in Two Infants". Pediatrics 98 (5): 944–947. PMID 8909490. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
- ^ Sudekum, M; Poppenga, R H; Raju, N; Braselton, W E Jr. (March 1992). "Pennyroyal oil toxicosis in a dog". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 200 (6): 817–818. PMID 1568929.
- ^ Young, Gordon. "Lifestyle on Trial", Metro, Metro Publishing and Virtual Valley, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
- ^ "Warnings about Essential Oils". Bits and Brew. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
- Comprehensive profile for Mentha pulegium from the website MaltaWildPlants.com
