Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), unlike peppermint, is not suitable for eating or as a natural medicinal plant. Pennyroyal contains toxins that can cause serious symptoms of poisoning if consumed in large quantities. However, due to the rarity of pennyroyal, poisoning is not common.
A treat for bees, poisonous for humans: pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is poisonous
The toxin found in all parts of pennyroyal is the pulegone found in the essential oil. If the substance is taken up by the plant, various symptoms of poisoning appear:
- Vomit
- increase in blood pressure
- signs of paralysis
- respiratory paralysis to arrest
If pennyroyal was accidentally eaten, see a doctor immediately.
In the past, pennyroyal was drunk as a tea to induce abortions. Pennyroyal is no longer used as a natural remedy because of the deaths it causes and because its occurrence has become very rare.
tips
Pennyroyal looks very similar to non-toxic peppermint. The most important distinguishing feature are the stamens that protrude from the flowers of pennyroyal. Pennyroyal can also be recognized by the hairy throat of the flower.