Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) Dried Herb Liquid Extract — External Use Only

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) Dried Herb Liquid Extract — External Use Only

For external use only. Not for internal use. This extract is supplied for topical and cosmetic formulation work — oils, balms, salves, soaps and compresses. Do not swallow.

A liquid extract of dried Mentha pulegium herb, supplied to formulators for external use. Read the warnings in full before ordering.

What you get

• One botanical, named to species. Only Mentha pulegium, the European pennyroyal — not American pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides, which is a different plant.
• The strongest scent in the mint genus. Pennyroyal carries a sharp, almost peppery mint note quite unlike peppermint or spearmint.
• Cold maceration, never heated. The material steeps at room temperature rather than being boiled or spray-dried.
• The classic flea herb. Its Latin name comes from pulex, the flea — this is the plant that was strewn on floors and packed into bedding for that purpose.
• Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.
• Sizes from 2 fl oz to 2 gallons, including multi-packs — the same extract whether you are testing a formula or running a batch.

About the plant

Pennyroyal is the smallest and most pungent of the true mints (Lamiaceae), a low creeping perennial of damp ground and pond margins across Europe, North Africa and western Asia, naturalised in parts of North America. It spreads by rooting runners into loose mats a hand high, with small oval leaves and tight whorls of lilac flowers stacked up the square stem. Pliny recorded it hung in Roman bedrooms, and the medieval English name pudding grass records its use in stuffings and hog puddings — but its lasting job through European history was as a flea and moth repellent strewn on floors and packed among stored cloth.

Suggested use

For external use in cosmetic and topical preparations. Blend into a carrier oil, balm, salve, cream or soap base at the rate your formulation calls for. Patch-test on a small area of intact skin and wait 24 hours before wider use.

Warnings

For external use only. Never take this internally. Pennyroyal contains pulegone, which causes fatal liver necrosis; deaths from swallowing pennyroyal preparations are well documented and there is no safe internal dose. Do not use during pregnancy in any form, including on the skin. Do not use on cats, dogs or other animals — pennyroyal is toxic to pets and has killed them through skin contact alone. Dilute well before any skin contact and patch-test first.

Keep out of reach of children. Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, including on the skin. Not for use on broken skin, open wounds or damaged skin. Discontinue use if irritation, redness or a rash develops. Do not use if the tamper seal is broken or missing. Store tightly capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Actual packaging may carry different or additional information; always read the label before use.