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Pennyroyal is often considered a remedy for indigestion, liver and gallbladder complaints, and skin inflammations, although there is no scientific proof of its effectiveness. It has also been used, again without validation, for gout, colds, and excessive urination. Homeopathic practitioners prescribe it for cramps and respiratory problems. This herb was evidently a favorite of royalty in early England; its name is a corruption of "puliollroyall" from the Latin "pulegium regium" or "pulegium of the king." The plant is very aromatic, and its fragrance, like that of roses, was credited with medicinal properties by the Roman scholar Pliny. Pennyroyal thrives in southern Europe, western Asia, the Middle East, and Ethiopia. A similar plant, American Pennyroyal, is found in the eastern half of the United States. Both the oil and the dried above-ground parts of the European Pennyroyal plant have been used medicinally.
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