Pennyroyal is a plant in the mint family, and for years it has been growing on my grandparents' woodland. It has quite a strong smell so it's not difficult to find in the summer and fall. Each year we gather a few handfuls, dry it on a tray in the sunlight, and make a very nice tea to drink in the winter months by the fire. It never occurred to me that it could be dangerous! I googled it one day and learned a lot. Fun fact: Nirvana even wrote a song about it!
For the record, dry tea is perfectly safe in moderation and in small amounts. The oil is considered toxic. Do not drink the tea if pregnant, and it is not safe for children.
Pennyroyal oil has been used for centuries to prevent pregnancy and induce abortion (Disclaimer: I do not advocate for this. It can be dangerous and may not work. If you try this you are doing so at your own risk). Even in small amounts, the oil can cause liver damage/failure, multi-organ failure, seizures, coma, cardiovascular collapse. There is no known remedy for pennyroyal poisoning.
On the positive side, the tea is good for digestive issues, colds, for sleep (it is claimed to be a mild sedative but this is not well-documented), and burning to use as an insecticide to keep mosquitoes away. Some people use the oil to massage in muscles for pain relief. The tea tastes wonderful flavored with a bit of honey, and a small amount (1 teaspoon) goes a long way!
You can find pennyroyal in wooded areas, wetlands, grasslands, near streams, basically anywhere with moist soil. It may be short in size but you'll know it by smell! Use a dehydrator or sunlight to ensure the leaves are very dry (they should crumble or break in your hands) before consuming.
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