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Sit and Drink Pennyroyal Tea


            
            
            
             Pennyroyal comes from the leaves of a plant known to scientists as either Mentha puleguim or Hedeoma pulegoides. The species name comes from the Latin word pulex which means "flea". It was named after this word by the Roman philosopher Pliny for its ability to drive away fleas (Grieve). It is native to most parts of Europe, specifically England, as well as parts of Asia. Some of its common names include: Pulegium, Run-by-the-Ground, Lurk-in-the-Ditch, Pudding Grass and Piliolerial.
             It belongs to the mint family and is the smallest in that family. The plant has stems 3 inches to one foot long with opposite leaves. The leaves are gray-green and hairy on both sides. The flowers bloom in whorled clusters on ten to twelve and are reddish purple to blue in color; they bloom in July and August.
             Just judging from some of its common names, one can guess how and where pennyroyal grows. It is found most abundantly in the wild near streams, along heaths, or ponds. This crop is easily grown but is extremely intolerant of drought (Long). It should be planted between March and April in loamy soil; the seeds should be six inches apart.
             Pennyroyal is sold primarily in the dry state for making tea or as a pre-made tea. The fresh herb yields about one per cent volatile oil, oil of Pulegium. This is a yellowish-green liquid that is obtained by distillation (Grieve). .
             Pennyroyal is carminative, diaphoretic and emmenagogic (Anderson). Carminative describes a remedy for abdominal ailments related to flatulence. Diaphoretic refers to the ability to induce mass perspiration. An emmenagogue is an agent that promotes menstrual flow and the flow of blood to the pelvis area in general. It is this last property that has caused pennyroyal to become a controversial herb in the recent past. Before expounding on that matter I will examine some of the ailments that the ancients thought pennyroyal was useful in soothing.


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