Evidence supporting the use of: Pennyroyal
For the health condition: Amenorrhea

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among European and North American herbalists. Historically, pennyroyal was employed as an emmenagogue—an agent thought to stimulate menstrual flow—and thus was sometimes recommended for cases of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Texts from the 17th through 19th centuries often reference its use for “obstructed menses.” This practice was based on anecdotal evidence and empirical observations rather than scientific studies.

However, there is a lack of modern clinical trials or robust scientific data to validate the efficacy or safety of pennyroyal for amenorrhea. Most contemporary sources caution against its internal use due to the significant risk of toxicity, particularly hepatic and renal failure, associated with its volatile oil (pulegone). In summary, the traditional use of pennyroyal for amenorrhea is documented in herbal literature, but there is scant scientific validation, and its use today is strongly discouraged due to safety concerns.

More about Pennyroyal
More about Amenorrhea

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