Information About The Herb Rue

Botanical Name: Ruta graveolens

Plant Family: Rutacaea

Common Names: Ave-grace, Common Rue, Garden Rue, German Rue, Herb of Grace, Herbygrass

Origin: Southern Europe

History: The name Ruta is from the Greek reuo, which means 'to set free'. It was used by the ancients, and Hipprocates especially recommends it. Turner mentions Rue in his Herbal of 1562.

In Iraq it was given to soldiers to instill courage.

Tradition:

• Added to baths it was thought to drive away spells and hexes
• In the Middle Ages it was considered a powerful defense against witchcraft and was used in many spells
• It was thought to bestow the user with second sight
• It was used in sachets and amulets to ward off illness
• Rue leaves placed on the forehead was thought to chase away headaches
• The smell of the fresh, crushed herb was thought to chase away thoughts of envy, egotism and love gone wrong

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Plant Constituents

Contains:

• caprinic acid
• caprylic acid
• oenanthylic acid
• plagonic acid
• rutin
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin P

Usage

Medicinal Parts Used: Herb

Rue is used for:

Blood Conditions

• strengthens the capillary veins

Brain and Nervous System Conditions

• acute pains in the head
• anxiety
• convulsions
• epilepsy
• fainting spells
• hysterical affections
• nervous heart problems
• nervousness
• spasms
• tension headaches
• vertigo

Cardiovascular Conditions

• arteriosclerosis, combined with Hawthorn, Horsetail, Mistletoe and Shepherd's Purse
• increases peripheral circulation
• lowers high blood pressure
• venous congestion

Eyesight

• makes the sight both sharp and clear
• preserves of sight

Female Conditions

• congestion of the uterus
• heart palpitations in menopausal women
• painful menstruation
• promotes the onset of menstruation

Gastrointestinal Conditions

• abdominal troubles
• colic
• cramps in the bowels
• flatulence (gas/wind)
• improves appetite and digestion
• stomach cramps

Genitourinary Conditions

• relieves gouty pains

Inflammatory Conditions

• relieves rheumatic pains

Parasitic Conditions

• eliminates worms

Respiratory Conditions

• colic
• croup
• coughs
• difficult breathing
• head congestion

Other

• nausea
• tendonitis (internally and externally)
• wards off fever

Rue is used in small amounts to expel poisons from the system, such as from bites of:

• snake 
• scorpion
• spider
• jellyfish 

Externally Rue is used for:

• gout
• pains in the joints
• rheumatism
• sciatica
• warts

Action: 

• anthelmintic [an agent that destroys or expels intestinal worms and/or parasites; vermicide; vermifuge]
• antispasmodic [an agent which relieves or eases muscular spasms, cramps or convulsions]
• carminative [an agent for easing griping pains, colic and expelling gas from the intestines]
• emetic [an agent that causes vomiting]
• emmenagogue (warm infusion)
• nervine [an agent that has a calming or soothing effect on the nerves, any agent that acts on the nervous system to restore the nerves to their natural state]
• rubefacient [a gentle local irritant that produces blisters, inflammation and reddening of the skin]
• stimulant [an agent that excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues giving more energy]
• stomachic [an agent that strengthens, stimulates or tones the stomach]

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Precautions

Caution: Rue should not be

• taken in excess as large doses can cause mild poisoning
• taken with meals
• used by pregnant women

Rue Oil 

• is a dangerous abortive
• may produce nerve derangements in large doses

Juices from the fresh plant may cause:

• dermatitis in sensitive people
• the skin to blister

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Products

Global Herbal Supplies has Rue available in the following forms:

• Rue Extract
• Dried Rue
• Rue Essential Oil
  

Research

Articles

Information given by our website  is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.

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B: Baical Skullcap  ||  Barberry  ||  Basil  ||  Bay Laurel  ||  Bayberry  ||  Bergamot ||  Bilberry  ||  Bistort   ||  Black Cohosh  ||  Blackberry  ||  Bladderwrack  ||  Blessed Thistle  || Blue Cohosh  ||  Boneset  ||  Borage  ||  Brahmi  ||  Buchu  ||  Bupleurum  ||  Burdock  ||  Butcher's Broom  || 

C: Calendula  ||  Californian Poppy  ||  Caraway  ||  Cascara  ||  Catnip  ||  Cats claw  ||  Cayenne  ||  Cedar  ||  Celery seed || Chamomile german ||  Chamomile roman   ||  Charparral  ||  Chickweed  ||  Cinnamon  ||  Cloves  || Coleus forskohlii  ||  Coltsfoot  ||  Comfrey  ||  Commiphora mukul  ||  Cornflower  ||  Cornsilk  ||  Corydalis ambigua  ||  Crampbark  ||  Crataeva nurvala  ||

D: Damiana  ||  Dandelion  ||  Devil's claw  ||  Dill  ||  Dong quai  ||  Dragon blood  ||

E: Echinacea  ||  Elder tree ||  Elecampane  ||  Ephedra  ||  Eucalyptus  ||  Evening primrose  ||  Eyebright  ||

F: False unicorn  ||  Fennel ||  Fenugreek  ||  Feverfew  ||  Flax  ||  Frankincense  ||

G: Garlic  ||  Gentian  ||  Ginger  ||  Ginkgo biloba  ||  Ginseng american  ||  Ginseng korean  ||  Ginseng siberian  ||  Ginseng tienchi  ||  Goat's rue || Goldenrod ||  Goldenseal   ||  Gotu kola  ||  Gravel root  ||  Green tea  ||  Guaiacum resin  || Gymnema  ||

H: Hawthorn  ||  Hemidesmus indicus ||  Hops  ||  Horehound white  ||  Horseradish  ||  Horsetail  ||  Hyssop  ||

I-J-K-L: ||  Inula || Juniper ||  Kava kava || Lavender  ||  Lemon balm ||  Licorice  ||

M-N-O: Marshmallow  ||  Meadowsweet ||  Mistletoe  ||  Mugwort  ||  Myrrh  || Neem  ||  Nettles || Oats  ||  Olive tree ||

P-Q: Paeonia lactiflora  ||  Passionflower  ||  Pau_D Arco  ||  Peppermint  ||  Phyllanthus amarus  ||  Picrorhiza kurroa  ||  Plantain  ||  Polygala tenuifolia  ||  Polygonum multiflorum ||  Queens delight ||

R: Raspberry leaves  ||  Red clover  ||  Rehmannia glutinosa  ||  Rheum palmatum  ||  Ribwort  ||  Rosehips  ||  Rosemary  ||  Rue  ||

S: Sage  ||  Salvia militiorrhiza  ||  Sarsaparilla  ||  Saw palmetto  ||  Senna ||  Shepherd's purse  ||  Skullcap  ||  Slippery elm  ||  Squaw vine ||  St john's wort  ||  St mary's thistle ||

T-U-V: Thyme  ||  Thyme wild ||  Uva ursi || Valerian  ||  Vervain  ||  Violet  ||  Vitex agnes castus  ||

W: Walnut  ||  Wild cherry  ||  Wild yam  ||  Willow bark  ||  Willow herb  ||  Witch hazel  ||  Withania  ||  Wormwood  ||

Y-Z: Yarrow  ||  Yellow dock || Zizyphus ||