Pennyroyal Oil A Potentially Toxic Folk Remedy

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We don’t hear about pennyroyal oil often. When we do, we have reason to be greatly concerned. Although poisonings with pennyroyal oil are rare, they can be serious and have even led to death.

Pennyroyal oil is extracted from the leaves of the pennyroyal plant, which is in the mint family. Pennyroyal oil has had many folklore medicinal uses for at least 2000 years. Because of its strong spearmint fragrance, it was used as an herb to flavor teas and food and as an insecticide. It is most notable for its use to induce menstruation and abortion. Use of pennyroyal oil has led to severe adverse reactions - and even death.

Herbal medicines are often thought of as "natural," and many people assume that "natural" means "safe." This can be a dangerous belief, as is seen with pennyroyal oil. Young women have died from attempting to induce abortion using pennyroyal oil. Infants have been severely sickened after they were given teas made with pennyroyal thought to be mint.

Pennyroyal oil contains pulegone, which is highly toxic, particularly to the liver. Ingestion can lead initially to gastrointestinal distress such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Later on, it can lead to failure of the liver and kidneys, resulting in bleeding, seizures, multiple organ failure, and death.

There is no antidote for pennyroyal oil poisoning. Thus, prevention and early treatment are key.

If you think someone might have swallowed pennyroyal oil, call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222.

Serkalem Mekonnen, RN, BSN, MPH
Certified Specialist in Poison Information