Pennyroyal
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Botanical Name |
Mentha pulegium |
|
Family |
Lamiaceae (Labiatae) |
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Other Names |
European pennyroyal, pudding grass, pulegium, tickweed |
|
Habitat |
Damp grassland |
|
Description |
Creeping perennial stems 7-15cm/3-6in high. Stems: branched almost hairless Leaves ovate short stalked up to 2-3cm, serrate Flowers July & August –lilac |
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Native to |
Europe, Asia |
|
Parts used |
Aerial parts |
|
Harvesting |
July |
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Actions |
Antiseptic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, insect repellent, refrigerant, stimulant |
|
Extraction |
Steam distillation of herb |
|
Constituents |
Volatile oil: pulegone, trans-iso-pulegone, menthol, isomenthol, iso-menthone, piperitenone, neomenthol, menthyl acetate, alpha pinene, beta pinene, camohene, beta phellandrene, p-cymene, 2-octonol, limonene Polyphenolic acids and flavonoids: hesperidin, diosmin |
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Traditional uses |
Purify blood, headaches, nausea |
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Other Uses |
Insect repellent, purifying water |
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Other Notes |
Named pulegium by the Romans from the Latin pulex meaning flea Pennyroyal is a corruption of the old herbalists name “Pulioll-royall” from the same Latin meaning royal thyme |
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Caution |
Only use under the supervision of a professional herbalist |