American false pennyroyal
StarHedeoma pulegioides
Synonyms: Melissa pulegioides, Ziziphora pulegioides, Cunila pulegioides
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
American false pennyroyal was widely used by Native American peoples, most extensively by the Cherokee, who employed the plant for gastrointestinal complaints, as an analgesic for headache and pain, as a cold remedy, for fevers and as a diaphoretic; the Mohegan, Ojibwa, Delaware, Nanticoke, Catawba and Rappahannock recorded comparable uses including treatment of colds, stomach trouble, diarrhea, coughs and toothache, and as a stimulant (Moerman, NAEB). It was also taken into the Eclectic and domestic Western materia medica as a warming carminative, diaphoretic and emmenagogue (King's American Dispensatory). CAUTION: the pulegone-rich oil is a documented abortifacient and is hepatotoxic and potentially fatal in concentrated doses; it must not be used in pregnancy (King, 1898; Moerman).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Hedeoma pulegioides, American false pennyroyal, is a small aromatic annual herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to eastern and central North America, where it grows in dry open woods, fields, clearings and disturbed ground on poor or gravelly soils. It reaches about 15–40 cm tall, with slender, much-branched, square stems that are finely hairy. The opposite leaves are small, oblong to narrowly elliptic, thin, short-stalked and minutely toothed, releasing a strong pennyroyal-like minty scent when crushed owing to their pulegone-rich essential oil. The tiny pale bluish to lavender, two-lipped flowers are borne in small axillary clusters along the upper stems, each subtended by leafy bracts, with a conspicuously hairy, two-lipped calyx. Flowering occurs in mid to late summer. The plant is a characteristic pioneer of dry, nutrient-poor disturbed habitats across its range.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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