Evidence supporting the use of: Pennyroyal (unspecified)
For the health condition: Cramps (menstrual)

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Synopsis

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

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium or Hedeoma pulegioides) has a long history of traditional use, particularly in European and North American herbal medicine, as a remedy for menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) and to promote menstruation (emmenagogue). Historical texts and folk medicine sources describe the use of pennyroyal tea or infusions by women to relieve painful periods and to stimulate delayed menstruation. The purported mechanism is its mild antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle, though this is based primarily on anecdotal and historical accounts rather than rigorous scientific studies.

However, scientific validation for pennyroyal’s efficacy in treating menstrual cramps is lacking. There are no high-quality clinical trials or robust pharmacological studies confirming its safety or effectiveness for this use. Furthermore, pennyroyal oil contains pulegone, a compound known to be hepatotoxic and potentially neurotoxic, with several documented cases of serious poisoning, including fatalities, from its ingestion. Due to these safety concerns, pennyroyal is not recommended in modern medical practice for menstrual cramps or any other internal use.

In summary, while pennyroyal has a traditional reputation for easing menstrual discomfort, current evidence does not support its use and highlights significant safety risks.

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