Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Culpeper: ‘Pulegium, penyroyal: provokes urine, breaks the stone in the reins, strengthens womens backs, provokes the terms, easeth their labour in child-bed, bringeth away the after-birth, stays vomiting, strengthens the brain, (yea the very smell of it), breaks wind, and helps the vertigo'
Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.

Toxicity

Notes: Should be avoided in pregnancy as it is an abortifacient
Medicines Control Agency (MCA), . (2002). MCA Parliamentary Report 'Saferty of Herbal Medicnes'. MCA.

Toxic due to pulegone monoterpene.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2021, 2022

"Humans: Harmful if eaten."- HTA guidelines.
The Horticultural Trades Association Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants 2022 https://hta.org.uk/poisonousplants

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Libya
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia
  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Turkmenistan
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain
  • Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., Georgia

Mentha pulegium L.

Family: LAMIACEAE
Genus: Mentha
Species: pulegium L.
Common names: Penny Royal; Church Herb; Flea Mint
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Pulegium
Distribution summary: Europe, Mediterranean, N.Iran
Habit: Perennial
Habitat: Damp meadows, sandy streamsides
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants in pots (POT)
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use, toxic


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