Rue as an Herb

(Ruta graveolens)

Rue is the national flower of Lithuania representing purity and virginity. Rue is first mentioned by Turner in 1562, in his Herbal, and has since become one of the best known and most widely grown herbs for medicinal and home uses.

At one time, holy water was sprinkled from brushes made of Rue at a ceremony usually preceding the Sunday celebration of High Mass, for which reason it is supposed it was named the Herb of Repentance and the Herb of Grace. 'There's rue for you and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o' Sundays.'

Rue has a disagreeable odor and is very bitter in taste.

Medicinal Uses for Rue

Rue was much used by the Ancients; Hippocrates specially commended it. The Greeks regarded it as an antimagical herb, because it served to remedy the nervous indigestion they suffered when eating before strangers, which they attributed to witchcraft. In the Middle Ages and later, it was considered - in many parts of Europe - a powerful defence against witches, and was used in many spells. It was also thought to bestow second sight.

In 1625 a Neapolitan physician named Piperno, commended Rue against epilepsy and vertigo, and for the former malady, at one time, some of this herb was hung around the neck of the sufferer.

Rue is used in small amounts to expel poisons from the system, such as those from snake bites, scorpion, spider, or jellyfish bites. Juices from the fresh plant can cause the skin to blister. It is used internally and externally as a remedy for tendonitis.

Rue-water sprinkled in the house 'kills all the fleas,' says an old book.

The juice from Rue was used against earache.

Fresh Rue leaves applied to the temple is said to relieve headache. Chewing a leaf or two is said to not only have a refreshing aromatic taste, but will pervade the mouth and relieve one of a nervous headache, giddiness, hysterical spasm or palpitations.

Oil of Rue is distilled from the fresh herb. Water extracts the virtues of the plant better than spirits of wine. Decoctions and infusions are usually made from the fresh plant, or the oil may be given in a dose of from 1 to 5 drops. The greyish green dried herb has similar taste and odor, but is less powerful. It is used, powdered, for making tea.

Cautions

Rue should not be taken with meals.

This herb is poisonous in any but small doses.

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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Some plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals. Some plants used for illness in the past have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.