Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Mentha pulegium L.

Family

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Pennyroyal

Arabic Name(s)

fulaya فولية

Hebrew Name(s)

na'na' ha-kadurim

נַענַע הַכַּדּוּרִים

Life Form

Hemicryptophyte?

Habitat

Humid habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Mentha pulegium L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Oral Health	Toothache	Analgesic	Prepare infusion of 1 teaspoon of leaves & stems in hot water & gargle.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Respiratory	Cold/ runny nose/ cough; induces sweating	Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal, Anti-tussive, Diaphoretic	1. Prepare infusion of leaves & stems & whip the watery extract + sugar + egg white until foamy; drink before sleeping; it induces sweating. 2. Cook leaves & stems +" za'tar farisi" (Thymbra capitata) & drink x1 cup before sleeping. May dilute with milk.	Leaf, Stem	Z

System/State

Traditional
Complaint/Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/ Administration

Parts Used

Source

Oral Health

Toothache

Analgesic

Prepare infusion of 1 teaspoon of leaves & stems in hot water & gargle.

Leaf, Stem

Respiratory

Cold/ runny nose/ cough; induces sweating

Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal, Anti-tussive, Diaphoretic

1. Prepare infusion of leaves & stems & whip the watery extract + sugar + egg white until foamy; drink before sleeping; it induces sweating.
2. Cook leaves & stems +" za'tar farisi" (Thymbra capitata) & drink x1 cup before sleeping. May dilute with milk.

Leaf, Stem

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Notes

Cautions

Mentha genus has some species which contain eucalyptol, pulegone, methofuran, carvacrol & coumarin in the essential oil, which when taken in large amounts can cause an abortion. Species rich in essential oil may have a CNS depressant effect. Direct application can be irritant.