Abstract

PIP: 3 cases of severe intoxication through the use of pennyroyal oil as an abortifacient agent are reported. The women, all residents in the Denver area, probably acted independently and did not seek advice from a common source. The women's nonuse of the local physician was not due to ignorance or nonavailability of abortion services, but seems to be part of a relatively widespread move away from conventional medicine. Needless to say, herbal preparation can be very harmful, and the public should be continually educated regarding the most popular forms of self-treatment.