Lurk-In-The-Ditch
Scientific Name: American pennyroyal
Other Names: European Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides, Mock Pennyroyal, Mosquito Plant, Penny Royal, Pudding Grass, Pulegium, Run-By-The-Ground, Squaw Balm, Squaw Mint, Stinking Balm, Thickweed, Tickweed
What side effects should I watch for?
Drugs must conform to certain regulatory proceedings, like manufacturer reporting, quality assurance, drug labeling, premarket clearance, benefit-risk assessment, and post-market monitoring, which facilitate the identification of serious adverse effects. Supplements generally do not have to conform to these processes, and therefore information on their adverse effects is limited.10
Pennyroyal oil derived from Mentha pulegium or the Hedeoma species is toxic to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, and blood.11
Potential adverse effects associated with the use of American pennyroyal include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dizziness, bleeding, increased blood pressure, increased pulse rate, agitation, lung problems, and dermatitis. In large portions, American pennyroyal can cause abortion, irreversible kidney damage, severe liver damage and death. A small amount of oil can produce delirium, unconsciousness, confusion, shock, seizures, and hearing or visual hallucination.1,13,14
American pennyroyal oil is also toxic to animals.
Adverse events reported to the FDA on a particular supplement can be viewed at http://www.cfsan.fda. gov/~dms/aems.html.
|
What side effects should I watch for? 
