Therapeutic Uses
- Insect Repellant – Pennyroyal oils helps repel flies, gnats, mosquitos, fleas, and ticks. It is the active ingredient in most natural insect repellants. If you buy an herbal flea collar for your dog or cat it’s likely to contain pennyroyal oil.
- Congestion and Coughs – Because pennyroyal is one of the most aromatic mints, the strong aroma of a pennyroyal infusion can serve as a decongestant and possible expectorant.
- Digestive Problems – Pennyroyal contains compounds similar to the stomach-soothing menthol in its botanical relative, peppermint. While pennyroyal’s stomach-settling action is not as strong as peppermint’s, the herb is still an effective digestive aid.
Medicinal Uses: *Breathing Problems *Cause Sweating *Colds *Counteract Weakness *Flea-Killing Bath *Gallbladder Problems *Gas *Gout *Increase Urine Production *Intestinal Disorders *Keep Insects Away *Kill Germs *Liver Problems *Mouth Sores *Muscle Spasms *Pneumonia *Regulate Menstrual Periods *Stimulant *Stomach Pains *Treat Skin Diseases *Venomous Bites
Pennyroyal Side Effects: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not take pennyroyal by mouth or apply it to your skin. Do not give children pennyroyal by mouth. The oil in pennyroyal can irritate the kidney and make existing kidney disease worse. The oil in pennyroyal can also cause liver damage and might make existing liver disease worse.
Pennyroyal Drug Interactions: None noted
