Pennyroyal
Scientific names: Mentha pulegium, Pulegium vulgare, Hedeoma pulegioides, Melissa pulegioides
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Alternate names: American Pennyroyal, Dictame de Virginie, European Pennyroyal, Feuille de Menthe Pouliot, Frétillet, Herbe aux Puces, Herbe de Saint-Laurent, Huile de Menthe Pouliot, Lurk-In-The-Ditch, Menthe Pouliot, Menthe Pouliote, Mosquito Plant, Piliolerial, Poleo, Pouliot, Pouliot Royal, Pudding Grass, Pulegium, Run-By-The-Ground, Squaw Balm, Squawmint, Stinking Balm, Tickweed
Background
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is a plant that grows throughout the world. The leaves, and the oil they contain, are used to make medicine.
Pennyroyal essential oil contains chemicals that have various toxic effects in the body.
People use pennyroyal for the common cold, pneumonia, fatigue, ending a pregnancy (abortion), and as an insect repellant, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It is also unsafe.
Pennyroyal essential oil contains chemicals that have various toxic effects in the body.
People use pennyroyal for the common cold, pneumonia, fatigue, ending a pregnancy (abortion), and as an insect repellant, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It is also unsafe.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Pennyroyal essential oil is likely unsafe. It can cause serious liver and kidney damage, as well as nervous system damage. Repeated use may lead to death. There isn't enough reliable information to know if pennyroyal leaf is safe to use as a tea.
When applied to the skin: Pennyroyal essential oil is likely unsafe.
Breast-feeding: It is likely unsafe to take pennyroyal by mouth or apply it to your skin while breast-feeding. Avoid use.
Children: Pennyroyal is likely unsafe when taken by mouth in children. Infants have developed serious liver and nervous system damage, and even death, after taking pennyroyal.
Kidney disease: Pennyroyal essential oil can damage the kidney and make existing kidney disease worse.
Liver disease: Pennyroyal essential oil can cause liver damage and might make existing liver disease worse.
When applied to the skin: Pennyroyal essential oil is likely unsafe.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: It is likely unsafe to take pennyroyal by mouth or apply it to your skin when pregnant. There is some evidence that pennyroyal oil can cause abortions by causing the uterus to contract. But the dose needed in order to cause an abortion could kill the parent or cause life-long kidney and liver damage. Avoid use.Breast-feeding: It is likely unsafe to take pennyroyal by mouth or apply it to your skin while breast-feeding. Avoid use.
Children: Pennyroyal is likely unsafe when taken by mouth in children. Infants have developed serious liver and nervous system damage, and even death, after taking pennyroyal.
Kidney disease: Pennyroyal essential oil can damage the kidney and make existing kidney disease worse.
Liver disease: Pennyroyal essential oil can cause liver damage and might make existing liver disease worse.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using pennyroyal for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of pennyroyal might be. Pennyroyal is also unsafe. Speak with your healthcare provider before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Pennyroyal can cause liver damage. Taking pennyroyal with acetaminophen, which causes a similar type of liver damage, might increase the risk for liver damage.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Iron: Pennyroyal might reduce how much iron the body absorbs from supplements.
Interactions with foods
Pennyroyal might reduce how much iron the body absorbs from food.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 29/06/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 27/09/2022 06:52:26. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
