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HERBALPEDIA
PENNYROYAL
mock pennyroyal, mosquito plant, pennyroyal
of America, poley, pudding herb, pudding
grass, squaw mint, squaw balm, stinking balm,
thickweed, tickweed, Run-by-the-Ground.
Lurk-in-the-Ditch; mentha pouillot, chassepuces, dictamne de Virginie, fretillet, herbe aux
puces, herbe de Saint-Laurent, petit baume,
poley, pouliot royal (French); Fleskouni
(Greek)
Mentha pulegium (European)
[MEN-thuh pul-ee-GEE-um]
or Hedeoma pulegioides (American)
[hed-ee-OH-muh pul-eg-ee-OY-dees]
Family: Labiatae
Names:
American
false-pennyroyal,
brotherwort, churchwort, flea mint, fleabane,
Description: English
pennyroyal: Tall
groundcover with a height of 1 foot and a width
of 1 foot. The flowers are pale purple, grouped
in whorls on upper top of short flowering
stalks. The leaves are dark green, slightly hairy,
oval, to 1 inch. Blooms from July to August.
The American pennyroyal stems reach 15
inches. Its leaves are similar to the European
variety but is flowers tend to be smaller and
more bluish. The two pennyroyals are only
distantly related but has similar constituents.
The odor resembles spearmint, but is less
attractive.
Cultivation: A perennial to zone 5 or 6.
Germination is on 10-14 days. Space 8-12
inches. Soil temperature 50-70F. Soil should
be well-drained, slightly rich, sandy, prefers
moisture with a pH of 5.5 to 8 in full sun or
partial shade.
Propagation for European
pennyroyal is normally by cuttings or root
division. Pennyroyal spreads rapidly, and once
established, clumps can be divided. American
pennyroyal must be grown from seeds sown in
spring or fall. Cover them with ¼ inch of soil.
Thin seedlings to about 5-inch spacings.
Harvest the leaves and flower tops of both
plants when they are in full bloom. In the
autumn, cut them a few inches above the
ground and hang them to dry.
Constituents: the essential oil includes ketone
pulegone, also menthone, iso-menthose,
octanol, piperitenone, isopulegone, menthol,
and other terpenoids. It also contains bitters
and tannins.
Energetics: spicy, bitter, warm
Meridians/Organs affected: liver, lung
Properties:
emmenagogue,
diaphoretic,
carminative, antispasmodic, mild sedative,
antiseptic,
digestive,
insect
repellent,
refrigerant, stimulant
History: Pennyroyal is thought to be the
kykeon herb used during the Greek Eleusinian
mysteries.
The Ancient Greeks used
pennyroyal during rituals seeking Demeter’s
favor (the goddess of harvests), and the dead
were washed with a pennyroyal decoction to
help the soul escape the body. In the Middle
Ages, it was dubbed puliol royale, or “royal
thyme,” since it was thought to be related to
thyme. Later, it was designated a mint, with
the French calling it la menthe pouliot. The
name pulegium derives from the Latin word for
flea, referring to its traditional use as a flea
repellent. Gerard said that pennyroyal was so
antiseptic, it would purify bad water. It was so
highly regarded by Europeans, it was one of the
first herbs brought to America by the pilgrims.
One of its popular names is “pudding grass”
which refers to a famous stuffing that was
made with pennyroyal, pepper and honey.
During the early Middle Ages pennyroyal was
recommended that by covering drowning bees
in its warm ashes they would recover their life.
Folk healers in American recommended
aromatic pennyroyal garlands for headache and
dizziness. During the early 19th century,
Thomsonian herbalists packed pennyroyal
leaves into the nostrils to treat nosebleeds.
After the Civil War, the Eclectics adopted it as
a stimulant, fever treatment, digestive aid, and
menstruation promoter.
Medicinal Uses: Pennyroyal’s main role is as
an insect repellent. The crushed leaves or
essential oil are rubbed on insect bites to reduce
their itch and to ward off future attacks. The
crushed green herb has been used to remove the
marks of bruises and burns. It has also been
taken to relieve headaches, indigestion,
congestion from colds, and menstrual pain.
Hot pennyroyal tea is one of the best herbs to
produce sweating and reduce a fever.
Pennyroyal’s nature is to make intelligent
choices and carry through clearly and without
regret. Pennyroyal is an ovarian tonic; it also
eases cramps, eliminates gas, calms nausea and
relieves nervous tension.
Pennyroyal
encourages menses. Its oil is abortifacient and
can be fatal. The leaves of pennyroyal are
nervine, diaphoretic, and antiseptic, used for
colds, fevers, headaches, and sunstroke.
Pennyroyal is a renewing wash for itching,
burning skin.
APPLICATIONS: use an infusion of 1 cup a
day or a tincture dose of 30-60 drops 2 times a
day.
For repelling insects, rub fresh, crushed plant
material around the body, or mix pennyroyal
tincture into a skin cream and rub that on.
For an herbal flea collar, try a pennyroyal
garland or a bag of the herb hung from a
regular collar
For an infusion to help treat cough, congestion,
or upset stomach, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried
herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10-15
minutes. Drink up to 2 cups a day.
In a tincture, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon up to twice a
day.
Aromatherapy Uses:
EXTRACTION: essential oil by steam
distillation from the fresh or slightly dried Herb
CHARACTERISTICS: a colorless or pale
yellow liquid with a very fresh, mintyherbaceous odor.
BLENDS WITH: geranium, rosemary,
lavandin, sage and citronella
USES: fragrance material mainly in detergents
or low-cost industrial perfumes. Used mainly
as a source of natural pulegone.
Toxicity: Occasionally pennyroyal causes
contact skin rashes. Large amounts of the herb
can be irritating to the genitourinary tract.
Even small quantities should not be used by
those with kidney disease or by pregnant
women. Pennyroyal got a bad reputation in
1978 when a woman died from an overdose of
the essential oil (2 tablespoons) while trying to
encourage an abortion. The FDA declared that
not only the essential oil, but the herb itself
must be declared for “external use only.” The
oil is a highly concentrated form of the herb
and the effect of 2 tablespoons of pennyroyal
oil equals roughly 75 gallons of strong tea.
Ritual Uses: Gender: Cold; Element: Earth;
Herbe of Venus; Basic powers: protection,
exorcism, Immortality. It is most useful in
penetrating the mysteries of death and rebirth.
It would be an excellent herbe to use when
developing a better knowledge of reincarnation.
Pennyroyal opens the secrets of rebirth and
immortality. Pennyroyal may be used to bathe
the body of the deceased prior to embalming.
The dried, powdered herb can be sprinkled on
and within the coffin. Its magick helps one’s
spirit move in a positive direction on the path
toward rebirth. Put in the shoe to prevent
weariness. Add to summer incenses and to
protection and exorcism blends.
Pennyroyal Happy Home Spell: Place
pennyrotal in a bowl to maintain serenity in the
home.
Other Uses: Pennyroyal is a dye plant and
small amounts are occasionally used in
potpourri.
Insect Repellent: 2 oz vegetable oil or vodka; ¼
tsp each citronella and eucalyptus oils, 1/8 tsp
each pennyroyal, cedar and rose geranium
essential oils. Combine ingredients and apply
mixture directly to all exposed skin.
Culinary Uses: Pennyroyal can make a
pleasant alternative garnish to the more usual
garden mint for new potatoes, peas and young
carrots. Because of its strong flavor it should
be used more sparingly.
Recipes:
Pennyroyal Butter
3 oz butter
1 Tbsp chopped pennyroyal leaves
1 ½ tsp lemon juice
salt and black pepper
Soften the butter in a bowl, then mix in
the pennyroyal and gradually add the lemon
juice. Season with salt and pepper and beat
until smooth. Form into small balls or shapes
and chill or freeze until needed.
Pennyroyal Sorbet
3 oz caster sugar
½ pint water
4 sprigs pennyroyal
juice of 1 large lemon
1 egg white
tiny sprigs of pennyroyal for decoration
Place sugar and water in a pan, bring to
the oil and boil for 2 minutes. Wash the
pennyroyal carefully and pat dry. Stir into the
pan, then remove pan from the heat and allow
to stand for 30 minutes. Strain into a container
and add the lemon juice. Place the container in
the freezer for about an hour until the mixture
is almost frozen. Meanwhile beat the egg white
until stiff. Fold it into the half-frozen mixture
and return the container to the freezer. Half an
hour before the sorbet is due to be served,
remove the container from the freezer to allow
the mixture to thaw slightly, then spoon into
individual serving dishes and decorate with a
small sprig of pennyroyal. (The Illustrated
Book of Herbs)
Pennyroyal Stuffing
4 Tbsp finely chopped onion
2 oz butter or margarine
1 ½ oz fresh breadcrumbs
3 Tbsp chopped parsley
¾ pint chopped fresh pennyroyal
1 Tbsp sugar
salt and pepper
Fry the onion in a little of the butter or
margarine until transparent. Add the remaining
fat and when melted, mix in the breadcrumbs,
parsley, pennyroyal and sugar. Season with salt
and pepper. Allow to cool before using. (The
Illustrated Book of Herbs)
Pennyroyal with Dried Fruit
½ lb any variety dried fruit
water
3 Tbsp sugar, or 1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp dried pennyroyal
Wash the dried fruit and soak in a bowl
of cold water overnight. Tip the fruit and the
water in which it soaked into a saucepan, stir in
the sugar or honey, and pennyroyal, bring to
the boil and cook gently for about 30 minutes
until the fruit is tender. Pour into a dish and set
aside until cold. (All Good Things Among Us)
Pennyroyal Dumplings
Serve with a well-flavored lamb or beef stew
1 cup self-raising flour
¼ cu suet
1 Tbsp chopped pennyroyal leaves
water
Combine the ingredients with enough
water to make a doughy but not sticky
consistency and form into balls about 1 inch in
diameter. Add to a moist beef or lamb stew
about half-an-hour before the end of the
cooking time, making sure there is enough
liquid in which the dumplings can cook. (The
Macmillan Treasury of Herbs)
References:
A Compendium of Herbal Magick, Paul
Beyerl, Phoenix Press, 1998; ISBN: 0-91934545-X
The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells,
Judika Illes, HarperElement, 2004: ISBN: 0-00774987-2
The Healing Herbs, Michael Castleman, Rodale
Press, 1991; ISBN: 0-87857-934-6
The Illustrated Book of Herbs, Gilda Daisley,
American Nature Society Press, 1982; ISBN: 0517-400278
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils,
Julia Lawless, Element Books, 1995; ISBN: 156619-990-5
The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia, Kathi
Keville, Mallard Press, 1991; ISBN: 0-79245307-7
The Macmillan Treasury of Herbs, Ann Bonar,
1985, Macmillan, ISBN: 0-02-513470-1
Medicine Grove, Loren Cruden, Destiny
Books, 1997; ISBN: 0-89281-647-3
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, Lotus
Books, 1988; ISBN: 0-941-524272
Resources:
Companion Plants, www.companionplants.com
plants
Crimson
Sage,
http://www.crimson-sage.com
Plants
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http://www.herbalpedia.com Editor: Maureen Rogers. Copyright 2006.
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