E
Death reported following ingestion of 15 ml (ca.^1 / 2 oz) EO, after 2-week consumption of alcoholic
extract (with pulegone metabolites in the liver) (AHP). Playing it safe, I like to remind everyone
that pregnant women are advised against taking (any medicine) this herb or others because the
herbs reportedly have some abortifacient properties. Further, pulegone, the active compound, is
reportedly absorbed through the skin and may be carcinogenic (I think the warning is overrated
but would prefer to err on the side of caution). But many of our generally recommended as safe
mints also contain pulegone. Delaneyites (a group of adherents of the Delaney Cause, that anything
containing a carcinogen is a carcinogen) might outlaw peppermint, one of our best medicinal herbs.
The Lawrence Review certainly puts pulegone at doubt. Pulegone is oxidized by hepatic cytochrome
P-450 to the hepatotoxic compound, menthofuran. Pulegone or a metabolite is also responsible for
neurotoxicity and destruction of bronchiolar epithelial cells. It extensively depletes glutathione in
the liver. Hepatic toxicity from overdoses has been prevented with acetylcysteine administered
promptly. Rats at 80 to 160 mg/kg/day develop encephalopathies. Not to be toyed with. Pennyroyal
oil is toxic and potentially fatal if ingested. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, rash, dizziness, and alternating lethargy and agitation, leading to kidney failure,
massive hepatic necrosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Five grams of pennyroyal oil
can cause collapse; 11.69 g abortion, collapse, salivation, and unconsciousness. Serious toxicity
with the tea has not been reported. CNS symptoms from ingesting pennyroyal-containing prepa-
rations include lethargy, agitation, dizziness, sometimes leading to seizures and auditory and visual
hallucinations. GI effects include nausea, vomiting, burning in the throat, abdominal pain, and
diarrhea (AEH1). EO LD50 = 400 mg/kg orl rat (CAN), LD50 = 4200 mg/kg der rbt (CAN).EUROPEAN PEONY (Paeonia officinalis L.) +Activities (European Peony) — Abortifacient (f; PHR; PH2); Alterative (f; CRC); Analgesic (1;
PNC); Antidiuretic (1; HHB); Antiherpetic (1; PNC); Antiinflammatory (1; PNC); Antispasmodic
(f; APA; CRC; MAD; PNC); Antiviral (1; PNC); Astringent (1; APA; PNC); CNS-Depressant (1;
PNC); Deobstruent (f; CRC); Depurative (f; CRC); Emetic (f; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Emmena-
gogue (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PHR; PH2); Hemostat (1; APA); Hypertonic (1; PHR); Hypotensive
(1; PH2); Immunostimulant (1; PNC); Laxative (f; FEL); Myorelaxant (1; PNC); Poison (f; CRC);
Tonic (1; CRC; PNC); Uterocontractant (1; PH2); Uterotonic (1; MAD); Vasodilator (1; PNC).
Indications (European Peony) — Acne (f; CRC); Allergy (1; FNF; KOM; PH2); Arthrosis (f; APA;
KOM; PH2); Asthma (f; MAD); Bleeding (1; APA; CRC); Bronchosis (f; KOM); Cardiopathy (f;
APA; KOM); Childbirth (f; CRC; MAD); Chorea (f; FEL); Colitis (f; KOM); Constipation (f; FEL);
Convulsion (f; CRC); Cough (f; MAD); Cramp (f; APA; CRC; FEL; MAD; PNC); Cystosis (f; CRC;
MAD); Dermatosis (f; APA; KOM; PH2); Diarrhea (f; CRC); Dropsy (f; CRC; FEL); Eclampsia (f;
MAD); Enterosis (f; CRC; HHB; KOM); Epilepsy (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PH2; WIC); Epistaxis (f;
CRC); Excitability (f; PH2); Gastrosis (f; HHB; KOM); Gout (f; MAD; KOM; PH2); Headache (f;
CRC); Hemoptysis (f; MAD); Hemorrhoid (f; APA; CRC; KOM; PH2); Hepatosis (f; CRC; MAD);
Herpes (1; PNC); High Blood Pressure (1; PH2); Immunodepression (1; PNC); Inflammation (1;
FNF; PNC); Lichen (f; MAD); Lunacy (f; CRC); Mastosis (f; MAD); Migraine (f; KOM; PH2);
Mucososis (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Nervousness (f; APA); Neuralgia (f; CRC; KOM; MAD; PH2);
Neurasthenia (f; KOM; PH2); Neurosis (f; CRC); Nightmare (f; FEL); Odontosis (f; MAD); Pain (1;
FNF; MAD; PNC); Pertussis (f; APA; FEL; PHR; PH2); Phlebitis (f; APA); Prolapse (f; MAD);
Proctosis (f; APA; MAD; PH2); Respirosis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (f; PHR; PH2); Sore Throat (f;
MAD); Spasm (f; CRC); Splenosis (f; CRC; MAD); Tumor (f; CRC); Ulcer (1; FNF); Uterosis (f;
CRC); Varicosis (f; APA; CRC; MAD); Virus (1; PNC); Wound (f; CRC). Root of P. officinalis
suggested, but not approved, for allergy, arthrosis, cardiopathy, cramp, enterosis, gastrosis, migraine,
neuralgia, and neurasthenia (KOM). Flower of P. officinalis suggested, but not approved, for arthrosis,
bronchosis, cardiopathy, dermatosis, gastrosis, gout, and hemorrhoid (KOM).