Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium

Botanical Information

Common Names: Pennyroyal

Folk Names: Pudding Grass, Fleabane Mint

Botanical Name: Mentha pulegium

Family: Lamiaceae

Description: A low, creeping, highly aromatic mint with small rounded leaves and whorls of lilac flowers. The aroma is sharp and penetrating. Historically used to repel insects and purify spaces.

History & Tradition

• Classical European herb used for colds, menstrual issues, and digestive discomfort.
• Widely used as a strewing and repellent herb in households and barns.
• Ancient writers noted its strong action on the uterus; this led to misuse and historical poisonings.
• Deeply rooted in folk magic as a banishing and boundary-setting herb.

Cultivation & Parts Used

Parts Used: Aerial parts (leaf, stem, flowers).

Growing Conditions: Moist soils, sun to partial shade; spreading habit.

Collection: Harvest during flowering; dry quickly to preserve volatile oils.

Doctrine of Signatures

Its low but spreading growth reflects boundary consciousness. The intensely sharp scent indicates its forceful, expulsive nature and ability to repel pests and intrusive energies.

Medicinal & Energetic Properties

Constituents

Volatile oils (notably pulegone), tannins, flavonoids, bitters.

Actions

Carminative • Diaphoretic • Antispasmodic • Insect-repellent • Traditional emmenagogue (but unsafe in practice). Because of its pulegone content, internal use is strongly discouraged today.

Taste & Energetics

Taste: Pungent, aromatic, bitter-minty

Energetics: Warming • Penetrating • Dispersing

Tissue States: Cold • Damp • Constricted (traditional)

Internal Uses

Historically used for chills, delayed menses, digestive cramps, and colds. Modern herbalists avoid internal use entirely due to toxicity and the availability of safer alternatives.

Topical Uses

Used safely only in dried form for sachets and repellent bundles. Essential oil is not recommended for topical use except in extremely dilute and expert-supervised contexts.

Combinations

Traditionally combined with other mints for colds and damp chills; modern practice substitutes safer herbs such as Peppermint, Yarrow, or Lemon Balm.

Homeopathic Remedy

Used in very high dilutions for menstrual irregularity and digestive cramping themes.

Flower Essence

Supports firm boundaries, repels unwanted influences, clarifies personal space.

Essential Oil

Extremely toxic. Ingestion has caused liver failure, seizures, and fatal poisoning. Topical use should be avoided unless under expert supervision. Not recommended for aromatherapy, ingestion, or casual use.

Culinary Use

Historically used in small amounts in medieval puddings and meats. Due to toxicity concerns, no longer recommended for culinary use.

Safety Notes

• Do NOT ingest internally.
• Contraindicated in pregnancy & breastfeeding at ANY dosage.
• Essential oil is and should never be used internally.
• Safer mint-family herbs (Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm) are always preferred.

This information is educational and not a substitute for medical advice.

Spiritual & Ritual Uses

A classic banishing herb. Used in protective charms, threshold magic, repellent sachets, and spells requiring a firm “No.” Clears lingering psychic debris and unwelcome influences.

Astroherbalism

Planetary Rulership: Mars

Zodiac: Aries

Signature: Strong, sharp, assertive boundary-setting energy.

Chakra Correspondence

Solar Plexus: Will, boundaries, personal authority.

Cosmic Ray

Red–Violet Ray: Banishing, repelling, decisive severing.

Alchemy & Spagyrics

Salt (Body): Anchors boundary-focused information.

Sulfur (Soul): Sharp, fiery aroma that drives out intruders.

Mercury (Spirit): Quick, cutting dispersal through subtle fields.

Spagyric Purpose: To enforce spiritual and energetic separation from harmful influences (advanced practitioners only).

Magical & Spiritual Properties

Banishing • Protection • Boundary magic • Repelling pests and spirits • Doorway wards.

Tarot Correspondence

Five of Swords: Hard boundaries, necessary conflict. Seven of Wands: Standing one’s ground.

Keywords: Banishing • Boundaries • Repellent • Sharp • Caution • Protection