Pennyroyal can be an effective “doorman” for your aura and your home.
This Th-HERBS-day, we honor pennyroyal, (Mentha pulegioides).
It’s a member of the mint/sage (Labiatae) family and is the perfect foot soldier to guard your energy.
Bringing both relief, wealth, and death-this herb has played a rocky part in medicinal history.
Ninth Century monk, Walafrid Strabo mentions pennyroyal in his Hortulus.
His writings note pennyroyal to be “reportedly valued as highly by the physicians of India as a whole sack of black Indian pepper.”
Black pepper in those times was as valuable as gold, which goes to show how revered pennyroyal used to be.
It can be a tricky herb to work with if you’re unaware of its dangerous potential.
The spirit of pennyroyal is like a highly-trained warrior with pent-up aggression wishing a motherf*cker would its whole life.
But it is an amazingly helpful herb to have around to maintain peace of mind and protection.
The History of Pennyroyal
Ancient Greek herbalist Pliny the Elder had noted that pennyroyal was effective against fleas.
Its reputation to work as a bug repellent has traversed across the world and across time.
The herb’s botanical name Mentha Pulegium derives from the Latin word pulex meaning “flea.”
People would braid the herb and put them around their pet’s necks to work as a natural flea collar.
Native Americans and white settlers would rub leaves of pennyroyal on their skin to work as a bug repellent.
Even today, many insect sprays use pennyroyal as an active ingredient in their formulas.
Pennyroyal was often used for abortion and promoting menstruation, but this use was short-lived.
When as little as 2 tablespoons of the herb’s oils are consumed, the liver breaks them down and turns them into poison in the body.
Two tablespoons are roughly the dosage needed to work as an abortifacient.
Nevertheless, two tablespoons are also the dosage to cause death when consumed.
Because death was so common when used for abortion, pennyroyal is now only recommended for external use.
Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium) – Medicinal Herb – 100 seeds
The Spirit of Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal works best by protecting borders, attracting business opportunities, and maintaining peace within the space it guards.
Its frequency is fierce and excellent for blocking petty energies that create stressors or bumps in the road.
This little soldier is a master of keeping out lower-level entities, like negative elemental spirits and weak malicious demonics.
When paired with Sun-ruled herbs like rosemary or cedar, the plants team to form ruthless protection against any evil entity.
However, being an herb ruled by Mars, pennyroyal can be particularly unpredictable and react destructively.
This is usually the case when used for any intentions that revolve around passion, sex, and surgery.
For some reason, this herb’s spirit can reflect the worse aspects of Mars and can go off the deep end in its affinity for death and destruction.
If you use pennyroyal for anything revolving around blood, death, war, fire, lust, or violence-you can expect unpredictability and chaos.
In the days of its use as an abortifacient, many women died using this plant.
These tragic deaths are examples of how this herb can fall into its Martian-ruled inclination for death and destruction.
With its dangerous undertones, pennyroyal is not an herb to take lightly, and its reputation ripples out into the spiritual realms.
Which is why this herb was meant for externally guarding and patrolling your energy and your home.
It filters out anything with lower vibrations and only allows gentle energies to pass its guard.
Negative energies approach aggressively which triggers pennyroyal’s natural thirst for confrontation and war.
It will keep a sharp eye on its perimeter and chase low levels away before they even get close enough for a chance to breach your space.
Negative energies usually don’t have the endurance to stand toe-to-toe with pennyroyal and don’t even risk going near it.
God of War Ares (Mars) Greek Roman Mythology Statue, 12-1/2-inch Sculpture by Veronese
Pennyroyal’s Energetic Properties
This list of stinging pennyroyal’s properties is an extremely helpful guide to assist you in spell crafting and rituals.
The energy of the herb is heightened when planned carefully with corresponding days, seasons, zodiacs, etc.
Here are 18 energetic properties associated with stinging pennyroyal:
1. Planet: Mars
2. Zodiac Sign: Aries
3. House: 1st and 8th
4. Element: Fire
5. Gender Energy: Masculine and Feminine
6. Chakra: Manipura/Solar Plexis (Yellow)
7. Archangel: Cameal
8. Deity: Ares (Greek), Thor (Norse), Laran (Etruscan)
9. Sabbat: Ostara
10. Season: Early Spring
11. Day: Tuesday
12. Body: Head, External Sex Organs, Muscular System, Face, Left Ear, Sense of Taste, Bladder
13. Rune: Fehu, Uruz
14. Numerology: 9
15. Fae: Salamander
16. Major Arcana: The Emperor, The Tower, Death
17. Minor Arcana: Wands
18. Cartomancy: Diamonds
Growing Pennyroyal
If you are familiar with growing mint in the garden, you know that its one of the easiest herbs to grow.
Fortunately, pennyroyal is just as easy to grow as other mints and you won’t need a green thumb to make it happen.
Whether you are planting either the European or American species, you can start either one by seeds or cuttings.
Plan to sow seeds in the spring or fall, but if you live in colder climates, like northern areas of the US, stick to planting in the spring.
The seeds can be difficult to germinate in practically all areas of the world, so plant plenty and lightly cover with loose soil.
Cuttings are always an easier way to establish pennyroyal and they will spread fast once established.
Consider planting in a separate container or garden because it can easily take over the garden.
Happy Th-HERBS-day!
