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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.
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.
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.
Medicinal Applications:
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.
Recommended 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.
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
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