PENNYROYAL
(Hedeoma pulegioedess)
American pennyroyal, mock pennyroyal, mosquito plant,
squaw balm, tickweed
Description:
An annual, aromatic plant. Erect, square, branching stem, 18 in.,
bears small, opposite, thin, ovate leaves, sparingly toothed.
Axillary clusters of small, tubular, lavender or purplish flowers
are barely visible. Eastern, central U.S. on dry fields, open
woods, widely cultivated. True pennyroyal (Mentha pelegium) does
not occur in wild America.
Medicinal:
Carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, sedative. The herb, helps
in colds, promote menstruation, taken with brewer's yeast to induce
abortion. Helpful against nausea, should not be taken during pregnancy,
nervousness, headaches, menstrual cramps and pain. Use 1 tsp.
herb to 1 cup water. Take 1-2 cups a day. Use a wash for skin
eruptions, rashes and itching. Repels ants and fleas and mosquitos.