Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Mentha pulegium
Western Herbalism
Western Herbalism

Pennyroyal

Mentha pulegium

Also known as European pennyroyal, Squaw Mint.

WarmingTaste: PungentTaste: AromaticTaste: Bitter

Essential oil highly toxic if ingested internally, causing hepatotoxicity, multiorgan failure, death use only herbal preparations in low doses emmenagogue effects require qualified practitioner oversight pulegone content responsible for toxicity LiverTox NCBI Henriette's Herbal

Ask Herbert about Pennyroyal. Herbert is the master herbalist inside Bountiful Herbs: he answers from this plate and eleven hundred others, with dosing, pairing and cautions. Your first ten questions are free.

Ask Herbert

Actions

CarminativeAntispasmodicEmmenagogueDiaphoreticStomachic

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Safety

Recognised toxicity. This plant carries a toxicity flag in the record; it is for trained practitioners only.

Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.

Pregnancy: Not for use in pregnancy

Breastfeeding: Not for use while breastfeeding

The record lists 4 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
Dried herb infusion/decoction: 1-4g per cup, 3x/day (max 4g/single dose)1000-4000 mg
total dried herbtotal dried herb 3-12g/day3000-12000 mg
Tincture: equiv. 0.6-1.2g herb/day600-1200 mg
Liquid extractLiquid extract (1:1): 1-4ml 3x/day NHP1-4 mL
Herb 1-4 g as an infusion three times daily1000-4000 mg
(G7) Liquid extract 1-4 mL (1 : 1 in 45% alcohol) three times daily .(G7)1-4 mL

Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.

From the sources

Clinical Notes. Essential oil highly toxic if ingested internally, causing hepatotoxicity, multiorgan failure, death use only herbal preparations in low doses emmenagogue effects require qualified practitioner oversight pulegone content responsible for toxicity LiverTox NCBI Henriette's Herbal

indications. Pennyroyal is traditionally indicated for: Feverish colds, Hysteria, Itching, Nausea, Painful menstruation, Gout, Skin eruptions, Common cold, Gas, Intestinal colic, Delayed menses, Stomach spasms, Whooping cough, Bloating, Flatulent dyspepsia, and 16 further conditions.

dose-reference. Reference preparation/dosing for Pennyroyal: Dried herb infusion/decoction: 1-4g per cup, 3x/day (max 4g/single dose); total dried herb 3-12g/day; Tincture: equiv. 0.6-1.2g herb/day; Liquid extract (1:1): 1-4ml 3x/day NHP ; BHP via Henriette's

safety-cautions. Pennyroyal - Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, liver disease, kidney disease | Side effects: Contact dermatitis (topical use | Safety flags: not considered safe in pregnancy; not considered safe during lactation; low-dose / narrow therapeutic window (use caution).

Often paired with

Nearby on the shelf

The whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.

Open the library, free