Pennyroyal: How to Make Pennyroyal Tea & Other Uses

Pennyroyal is a medicinal plant that can offer many health benefits, like treating viral infections (like the flu, bronchitis and whooping cough), improving digestion, getting rid of excess gas, relieving menstrual cramps and repelling bugs.

Pennyroyal contains pulegone, menthone, menthofuran, diosmin and hesperidin, which are flavonoids and essential oils that have naturally digestive, expectorant, stimulant, emenagogue, repellent and diaphoretic properties.

The main types of pennyroyal are scientifically known as Mentha Pulegium or Cunila microcephala Benth. This plant can be purchased at health food stores or farmer's markets, and used to prepare teas, syrups or even season foods like sausage, fish, meat, and olive oil.

Health benefits

Pennyroyal can be used to achieve health benefits like:

1. Combating respiratory problems

Pennyroyal contains expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties that can treat respiratory infections like the flu, bronchitis or whooping cough. It can also be taken to help relieve a productive cough.

In addition, pennyroyal can stimulate a diaphoretic response and increasing sweat production, which can help to lower a fever.

2. Relieving indigestion

Pennyroyal contains menthone and flavonoids, which are bioactive compounds with digestive, carminative and tonic properties. These can help to improve bile production, relieve indigestion, and get rid of excess gas in the stomach and intestines.

3. Reducing period cramps

Menthone, an essential oil that is naturally found in pennyroyal, has a relaxing and carminative action. It can help to relax the uterine muscles and help to relieve period cramps and abdominal pain. Check-out other natural remedies for menstrual cramps that you can prepare to help manage pain.

4. Repelling insects

Because it has insecticidal, antimicrobial and repellent action, pennyroyal can be useful for keeping insects away. It can also help to regulate the growth of fungi, bacteria and parasites in environments, plants and animals.

5. Regulate periods

Menthofuran, an essential oil that is naturally present in pennyroyal, has emmenagogue properties that stimulate the contraction of the muscles of the uterus. This can help to induce a period and make it more regular.

6. Healing wounds

Pennyroyal can be used in the form of compresses to treat small skin wounds. This plant contains natural antimicrobial and healing properties.

How to make pennyroyal tea

To make pennyroyal tea, you can use the leaves, stems or flowers from this plant.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of pennyroyal leaves, stems or flowers
• 1 cup of water

Directions:

Boil the water in a pot and remove from heat. Then add the pennyroyal to the boiling water, cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 2 to 3 cups of this tea per day, during or after meals, for up to 2 weeks.

How to use pennyroyal

Pennyroyal can be used in cooking to season savory dishes, such as fish, bread, liqueur, olive oil, meat, as well as desserts such as pudding, pie, compote and fruit salad.

Furthermore, pennyroyal can also be used to make cough syrups, compresses and an essential oil:

• Syrup: Heat 3 tablespoons of brown sugar in a pot over medium heat until caramelized. Then add 500mL of water and two teaspoons of pennyroyal until all the sugar dissolves. Wait for it to cool, strain, and pour into a sealed jar. Take one to two tablespoons of this syrup per day.
• Essential oil: pennyroyal can be used in a diffuser, or massaged directly into the skin by diluting 5 drops of essential oil in a plant-based oil, such as almond or coconut oil
• Compresses: Soak a clean piece of gauze or cotton in pennyroyal tea and apply it to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day.

Although pennyroyal can provide many health benefits, using this plant for medicinal purposes should be approved and monitored by a doctor or medicinal plant specialist. 

Side effects

Consuming pennyroyal in excessive amounts can lead to side effects like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, high blood pressure, decreased heart rate and hives.

Contraindications for use

Pennyroyal in the form of teas and essential oil, is contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is also not recommended for children under 6 years old.

People who take medications or supplements on a regular basis should only consume pennyroyal unde the careful monitoring of a doctor, as there are no studies available that confirm the safety of pennyroyal taken with other medications.

People with liver or kidney problems should only consume pennyroyal as approved by their doctor, as consuming this plant can cause damage to these organs.