Regarding Rue

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Published on: Feb 22, 2000

RUE Ruta Graveolens

COMMON/FOLKLORE NAMES: Herb of Grace, Garden Rue, German Rue, Herbygrass, Hreow, Mother of the Herbs, Ruta, Bashoush, Rewe

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Rue is a *very* powerful herb. In large quantities Rue can be toxic; an overdose will lead to vomiting. Do not take Rue immediately after eating. *NEVER* use Rue if you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy. *ALWAYS* wear gloves when picking the fresh growth as skin irritation or light rash may occur.

PARTS USED: Most modern herbals suggest using only the aerial (above ground) parts of the plant. The majority of the volatile properties are found in the tops of the younger shoots, and are best harvested just before flowering.

Infusions and decoctions are usually made from the fresh plant. Dried Rue has a similar taste and smell, but is less powerful.

HISTORICAL REFERENCES: We find that Rue, like so many herbs, offers a history where its medicinal and magical uses are so closely intertwined that we find our best guidance for today in the tales of yesterday. A Modern Herbal offers some fascinating history behind this herb, and I encourage you to follow that link at your leisure. Just a few from this and other sources are listed here:

- Hippocrates specially commended it (for fending off illness and disease), and it constituted a chief ingredient of the famous antidote to poison used by Mithridates. The Greeks regarded it as an antimagical(sic) herb, because it served to remedy the nervous indigestion they suffered when eating before strangers, which they attributed to witchcraft.

- Rue as once grown around temples to Mars in Rome, and some sources state Romans ate Rue as protection against the evil eye.

- Piperno, a Neapolitan physician, in 1625, commended Rue as a specific against epilepsy and vertigo, and for the former malady, at one time, some of this herb used to be suspended round the neck of the sufferer.

- Pliny...reported Rue to be of such effect for the preservation of sight that the painters of his time used to devour a great quantity of it, and the herb is still eaten by the Italians in their salads. It was supposed to make the sight both sharp and clear, especially when the vision had become dim through over-exertion of the eyes.

- It was with 'Euphrasy and Rue' that Adam's sight was purged by Milton's Angel.

- At one time the holy water was sprinkled from brushes made of Rue at the ceremony 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.

- Today in some parts of Mexico, ‘Curanderos’ still cleanse and treat patients by brushing them with fresh Rue and pepper tree branches.

- Folklore references list Rue as one herb to ward of pests, and suggests Rue in water sprinkled in the house will kill fleas.

MEDICINAL USES: The earliest reference to Rue in a medicinal herbal is from Turner in 1562, listing Rue as one of the most widely grown simples for medicinal and homely uses. An extremely potent herb, Rue is used today only with caution and, it is strongly suggested, only under professional supervision. However, its uses are valuable enough to warrant attention.

- Rue’s most common use is for eye strain, and resulting headaches. A mixture of the fresh juice and honey - a natural preservative - applied to the eyes at the rate of one drop, twice a day, is said to relieve overstrained eyes and sharpen vision.

The same honey and rue mixture can be added to hot water as a medicinal tea (or gargle) for colds, flu and stomach disorders. Rue’s antispasmodic properties relieve nervous indigestion.

- Fresh leaves of Rue applied to the temples will relieve headaches.

- When eaten (one leaf or two only!) as in salad, fresh Rue can clear the eyesight.

Grieve says that "If a leaf or two be chewed, a refreshing aromatic flavor will pervade the mouth and any nervous headache, giddiness, hysterical spasm, or palpitation will be quickly relieved."

- The fresh juice or Rue oil can be used as drops placed in ear to relieve earache.

- A tea of dried Rue can bring on menstruation. ***Warning: See Cautionary Statement Above. Use only under professional supervision.

- Leaves may be bruised and applied, or macerated and applied in a poultice, to ease the pain of sciatica, gout and rheumatic pains, as well as treating sprains and strains. A compresses saturated in a potent decoction applied to the chest has been used beneficially for chronic bronchitis.

- Rue strengthens fragile blood vessels and varicose veins.

- The Chinese use Rue specifically for snake and insect bites

GARDENING WITH RUE: Rue is a hardy (semi)evergreen in most zones, and grows in almost any well drained soil, actually preferring poor soil to rich beds. It prefers to be partially sheltered and thrives in drier conditions, tolerating heat well. Rue can be grown from seed, but prefers propagation from cuttings planted in Spring. Rue’s tendency toward a shrub form makes it a wonderful choice for a nice small ornamental hedge. Small greenish-yellow flowers grow in clusters atop 1.5-3’ tall stalks, blossoming from June to September. The plant itself has a rather strong, unpleasant odor - just like medicine!

Plant rue among sage to protect the health of the sage. Plant Rue anywhere in a garden to protect the garden!

For some reason, Toads do not like Rue.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES:

GENDER: Masculine

PLANET: Mars, Sun

ELEMENT: Fire

DIETIES: Mars, Diana, Aradia

As early as the Ancient Greeks, and commonly throughout the Middle Ages, Rue was considered to be a powerful defense against witches, and was used to reverse manipulative spells. Rue was also thought to grant second sight.

Cunningham mentions Rue’s inclusion in healing incenses and poppets, or worn around the neck to regain health after illness. He mentions sniffing fresh rue to clear the head in love matters and add clarity to mental processes.

Today Rue is used primarily in blessings, especially of the home, and for protection and good fortune for the home and family. A sprig or sachet can be hung by the door for protection.

Rue can be burned or strewn to banish negativity or purify objects prior to consecrating them for ritual use, especially those made of iron, such as cauldrons.

A sprig of Rue can be used to scatter salt water to purify a space.

Beyerl suggests storing a small Ruby with any ritual Rue.

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