Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Pennyroyal The Safety Factor
Ever since pennyroyal’s abortion-inducing oil was first distilled more than 100 years ago, this herb has been notorious because its oil is so toxic. Pulegone does indeed stimulate uterine contractions. Unfortunately, the dose necessary for abortion is quite close to the lethal dose, a fact that many women have learned the hard way. The British medical journal Lancet reported a case of abortion-related pennyroyal oil poisoning as early as 1897, and since then about a dozen similar cases have appeared in the medical literature.
As little as Ih teaspoon of pennyroyal oil can produce convulsions, and according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an 18-year-old pregnant woman died within 2 hours after taking 2 tablespoons, despite emergency treatment.
Clearly, women wishing to terminate pregnancy should not use pennyroyal oil. In fact, no one should.
Though small amounts of pennyroyal oil can be fatal, the oil is a super-concentrated extract of the herb. Drinking a few cups of pennyroyal infusion poses no hazard. University of Illinois pharmacognosist Norman Farnsworth, Ph.D., estimates it would take 75 gallons of strong pennyroyal infusion to approach a potentially toxic dose of pennyroyal oil.
Other Cautions
For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, pennyroyal herb - not the oil - is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.
Pennyroyal should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If pennyroyal causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Good Soil Required
Despite their botanical differences, both European and American pennyroyal yield similar oils and are used interchangeably.
The European herb is a perennial that spreads by underground runners. Its square stems grow to about 12 inches. Its opposite, oval leaves are smooth or slightly hairy. Tight whorls of small lilac flowers appear in midsummer.
European pennyroyal may be propagated from root runner divisions in early spring or fall, or by rooting stem cuttings during summer. Both species do best in rich, well-watered, sandy, slightly acidic loam under full sun, though the European herb tolerates partial shade. European pennyroyal needs room to spread. Its runners emerge after it flowers.
American pennyroyal is an annual with square stems that reach 15 inches. Its leaves resemble those of the European variety; however, its summer-blooming flowers tend to be smaller and more bluish.
American pennyroyal must be grown from seeds sown in spring or fall. Cover them with ΒΌ inch of soil. Thin seedlings to about 5-inch spacings.
Harvest the leaves and flower tops of both plants when they are in full bloom. In the autumn, cut them a few inches above the ground and hang them to dry.