Medicinal Plants : Ruta graveolens

Name

Rue

Biological Name

Ruta graveolens
Rutaceae

Other Names

Rue, Common rue, garden rue, German rue, herb-of-grace, countryman's treacle, herbygrass
Aruta, Garden Rue, Somalata, Sadab

Parts Used

The herb

Active Compounds

Volatile oil, 2-undecanone (50-90%), 2-haptanol, 2-nonanol, 2-nonanone, limonene, pinene, anisic acid, phenol, guiacol and others

Flavonoids such as quercitin and rutin

Coumarins: bergapten, daphnoretin, isoimperatorin, naphthoherniarin, psoralen, pangelin, rutamarin, rutarin, scopoletin and umbelliferone

Alkaloids: arborinine, g-fagarine, graveoline, graveolinine, kokusaginine, rutacridine.

Lignans, in the root; savinin and helioxanthin.

History

This is a herb that had been used from time immemorial. It was used by the priests in ancient times. It was a well known herb in Christ's time. Rue is like hyssop as a fine remedy for the "many ills of humanity" according to Jethro Kloss. It is believed to relieve congestion of the uterus, leading a very stimulating and tonic effect. Excellent for suppressed menstruation.

Remedies For

Action

Abortificient, anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, ernmenagogue, irritant, stimulant, stomachic

Uses

The main uses for rue are to relieve gouty and rheumatic pains and to treat nervous heart problems, such as palpitations In women going through menopause. The infusion is also said to be useful in eliminating worms.

In European folk medicine, rue serves to relieve gas pains and colic, improve appetite and digestion, and promote the onset of menstruation. Rue can also be made into an ointment for external use against gout, rheumatism, and sciatica.

Jethro Kloss recommends the herb for painful menstruation, stomach trouble, cramps in the bowels, nervousness, hysteria, spasms, convulsions, pain in the head, confusion, dizziness, colic and convulsions in children, sciatica, pain in the joints and gout. It is also believed to resist poison.

The herb, on distillation, yields a volatile oil that has many medicinal applications. The internal administration of the oil causes abortion in pregnant women.

Combinations : For use in the regulation of periods it will combine well with False Unicorn Root and Life Root.

Fresh leaf juice mixed with brandy is useful for paralysis.

Description

Rue is an aromatic perennial plant native to southern Europe and northern Africa and commonly cultivated in Europe and the U.S., sometimes escaping to grow wild locally. The branched, pale green, glabrous stem bears alternate, pinnately decompound, somewhat fleshy leaves with oblong to spatulate leaflets. Small yellow or yellow-green flowers appear from June to August.

Dosage

Infusion: Steep 1 tsp. dried herb in 1/2 cup water. Take 1/2 cup a day.

Cold Extract- Soak 1 tsp. dried herb in 3/4 cup cold water for 10 hours and strain. Take 3/4 cup a day.

Tincture: A dose is from 5 to 20 drops.

Safety

CAUTION: Large doses of rue can cause mild poisoning. Contact with the fresh plant may cause dermatitis in sensitive persons; the juice is a local irritant

Rue is not to be used by pregnant women. Do not boil rue or do not use in large quantities.