Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Pennyroyal Plants Beat Off Bugs

Q. A camper recently asked how to avoid insect bites. My family faced this problem when I was young, living in the hills of Arkansas.

Much of our food, such as huckleberries or blackberries, came from the woods. When we went out to gather them, our first stop was a spot that had a lot of pennyroyal herbs. We pulled up a couple of plants and scrubbed them against our trouser legs and were never bothered by ticks or chiggers or other insects while we were gathering fruit.

I have no idea where anyone would find pennyroyal herbs now, but I think “oil of pennyroyal” might be available in health food stores.

A. Pennyroyal oil has been used for centuries as an insect repellent. When used directly on the skin, though, it may cause a rash. Your trick of rubbing the plant on your clothes was probably a good way to get the benefits without the risks. Pennyroyal oil should not be taken orally since it can be toxic to the liver.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
0- 0 ratings
About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.