Evidence supporting the use of: European Pennyroyal
For the health condition: Dysmenorrhea

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Synopsis

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

European Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) has a long history of use in traditional European herbal medicine, particularly for women's health issues such as dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Historical records from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as medieval European herbals, note pennyroyal's use as an emmenagogue (an agent that stimulates menstrual flow) and for relieving menstrual cramps. The plant contains volatile oils, primarily pulegone, which are thought to have antispasmodic effects on smooth muscle, potentially explaining its traditional application in easing menstrual pain. However, these uses are based on empirical tradition rather than rigorous scientific study.

Modern scientific evidence supporting pennyroyal’s efficacy for dysmenorrhea is minimal. There are no high-quality clinical trials confirming its effectiveness or delineating a safe therapeutic dose. Furthermore, pennyroyal oil is known to be toxic, especially to the liver and kidneys, and can be fatal even in small doses. Because of its toxicity, pennyroyal is rarely recommended in contemporary herbal practice, and regulatory bodies caution against its use.

In summary, while European Pennyroyal has a strong traditional basis for use in dysmenorrhea, there is little to no scientific evidence to validate its efficacy or safety for this purpose. Its use is now generally discouraged due to significant toxicity concerns.

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