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Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), looks like mint, smells like mint and even tastes like mint but unlike mint contains pulegone, an extremely poisonous compound that is toxic to the liver and acts as an abortificant.
Is pennyroyal toxic to humans?
Pennyroyal is an herbal extract or oil derived from leaves of the plant in the mint genus (Mentha pulegium) that was used in the past as an insect repellent and an abortifacient. When taken by mouth, pennyroyal oil is highly toxic and has been linked to several instances of toxic liver injury and death.
What is pennyroyal herb Good For?
Despite serious safety concerns, pennyroyal is used for colds, pneumonia, and other breathing problems. It is also used for stomach pains, gas, intestinal disorders, and liver and gallbladder problems. Women use it to start or regulate their menstrual periods, or to cause an abortion.
Why is pennyroyal toxic?
Pennyroyal oil contains pulegone, which is highly toxic, particularly to the liver. Ingestion can lead initially to gastrointestinal distress such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Later on, it can lead to failure of the liver and kidneys, resulting in bleeding, seizures, multiple organ failure, and death.
What does pennyroyal plant look like?
The plant features long, weed-like stalks with vibrant green leaves and tight purple blooms. When crushed, pennyroyal’s leaves emit a fragrance similar to that of spearmint. Its profuse lavender flowers attract butterflies, and its spreading habit fills in bare spots in the garden or container.
Is pennyroyal tea safe to drink?
The lower concentration of toxic chemicals in these teas are less harmful than pennyroyal oil. It is recommended that people only drink pennyroyal tea periodically, as it is taxing on the body and should not be drunk on a regular basis. Consumption of pennyroyal tea can be fatal to infants and children.
Can you cook with pennyroyal?
Nutrition. Pennyroyal used to be a good deal in cooking, for teas, and for medicines. However, the latest studies show that it can have toxic effects on the liver and on women in particular, and so the recommendation is that it should not be consumed or taken internally in any way.
What were pennyroyal pills?
Pennyroyal has always been associated with women’s bodies and sexuality: it was used in love potions, served as an obscene metaphor for female pubic hair, and was employed as a symbol of illicit sexuality. It has also been known since antiquity as a powerful abortifacient.
What was pennyroyal used for in the 1800s?
Pennyroyal tablets and “female pills,” sold to women in the 19th century. Women regulated their menstruation for centuries, and in many cases, ended pregnancies without drama or incident.
How do you use pennyroyal as an insect repellent?
To keep flies, gnats and mice away, colonists planted pennyroyal around their farms and homes. To use as an insect repellent, rub the leaves on your clothing rather than on your skin. Because of its strong oils always always wash your hands after working with pennyroyal.
What does pennyroyal smell like?
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), looks like mint, smells like mint and even tastes like mint but unlike mint contains pulegone, an extremely poisonous compound that is toxic to the liver and acts as an abortificant. Pennyroyal has been used as a culinary herb for thousands of years.
What is English pennyroyal?
European pennyroyal, also known as English pennyroyal, is a perennial mint native to Europe and Asia. The herb has naturalized throughout North America since its introduction to the continent by early European colonists.
Is pennyroyal toxic to cats?
We now know that, whether it’s applied to the skin or ingested, pennyroyal oil is toxic to cats and dogs. The oil comes from two species of pennyroyal plants, which are in the mint family. Pennyroyal oil also can cause nerve damage, seizures, hemorrhage, anemia and respiratory impairment.
Does pennyroyal come back every year?
Pennyroyal plant is a perennial herb that was once widely used but is not as common today. It has applications as an herbal remedy, culinary use,s and as a decorative touch. Growing pennyroyal in the herb or perennial garden will add color with its reddish purple to lilac blooms.
Does pennyroyal grow in the wild?
Wild pennyroyal(Piloblephes rigida) is a low-growing, evergreen, herbaceous to semi-woody shrub. It typically flowers in late winter through spring, but can bloom year-round. It occurs naturally in scrub, scrubby and pine flatwoods, sandhills, dry prairies and ruderal areas.
How can you tell the difference between mint and pennyroyal?
Pennyroyal has small oval leaves, greyish in colour. Flavour: Spearmint is generally a sweet flavour imparting a cool sensation to the mouth. Peppermint has a stronger menthol taste. Pennyroyal is strong with a medicinal flavour.
How much pennyroyal is safe?
The toxicity of pennyroyal oil is well recognized, with many documented reports of adverse events and fatalities. In humans, consumption of 10 mL of the oil has resulted in moderate to severe toxicity, with case reports of fatalities 1 to 2 hours after consumption of 15 mL.
Is pennyroyal a contraceptive?
Pennyroyal, we came to learn, is an abortifacient, an old friend to “luckless girls in need,” as the Nebraskan novelist Mari Sandoz once wrote. Too much of it can damage the liver and cause convulsions, coma or even death. A little less can end a pregnancy.
What is tincture of pennyroyal?
Pennyroyal has been found helpful in easing coughs and congestion from colds and other respiratory infections. An expectorant, it alleviates dry, hacking coughs and helps expel phlegm. As a diaphoretic, Pennyroyal herbal tincture may help to reduce fevers by inducing perspiration.
Do bees like pennyroyal?
Pennyroyal. Pennyroyal has a similar scent to mint, which means bees and wasps don’t like it at all. A relatively small plant, 6-12 inches in height, pennyroyal is a good choice for containers. This plant is relatively easy to grow, but be sure to water it frequently so that it does not dry out.
