Botanical Index No. 882

Rue

ruta graveolens

Medicinal Actions

Acaricide, Allergenic, Analgesic, Antiatherogenic, Antibacterial, Anticapillary Fragility, Antiexudative, Antifertility, Antihistaminic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antithrombic, Antitussive, Astringent, Carminative, Chemopreventive, Choleretic, CNS Stimulant, Contraceptive, Decongestant, Diaphoretic, Ecbolic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Hirudicide, Hypotensive, Insecticide, Memorigenic, Myorelaxant, Nematicide, Phototoxic, Radioprotective, Sedative, Stimulant, Stomachic, Uterotonic, Vermicide, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Anaphrodisiac Aperitif Aphrodisiac Bitter Collyrium Hemostat Insectifuge Nervine Rubefacient Vermifuge Adenopathy Ague Amenorrhea Anorexia Asthenia Asthma Atherosclerosis Backache Bacteria Bleeding Blepharosis Bruise Cancer breast colon liver mouth rectum spleen stomach testicle uterus Capillary Fragility Cardiopathy Childbirth Congestion Conjunctivosis Convulsion Corn Cough Cramp Croup CVI Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Earache Edema Encephalosis Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Escherichia Fever Fibroid Fit Fungus Gangrene Gas Gingivosis Gout Headache Head Cold Heart Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hysteria Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Ischiosis Jaundice Lumbago Measles Multiple Sclerosis Myalgia Mycosis Nausea Nerves Nervousness Neuralgia Neurasthenia Nightmare Ophthalmia Ozena Pain Palsy Paralysis Pharyngosis Psoriasis Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Scabies Scarlet Fever Sciatica Scirrhus Scleroma Shock Spine Sprain Staphylococcus Stomachache Stomatosis Stroke Syncope Thrombosis Ticks Toothache Tuberculosis Typhoid Uterosis Varicosis Vertigo Wart Whitlow Worm stroke syncope thrombosis ticks toothache tuberculosis typhoid uterosis varicosis vertigo wart whitlow worm

General Dosage

Should not be used; 0–1.5 g herb as emmenagogue; 0.5–1 g herb, several ×/day; 1–2 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day; 1–2 g dried herb; herb juice applied directly in earache and toothache, not me; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract; 2–6 drops EO. Should not be used; 0–1.5 g herb as emmenagogue; 0.5–1 g herb, several ×/day; 1–2 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day; 1–2 g dried herb; herb juice applied directly in earache and toothache, not me; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract; 2–6 drops EO.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1, U.S. regulations prohibit food use at levels of 2 ppm. Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated in poor kidney function; avoid excess sunlight. Commission E reports leaf and herb EO is toxic and can produce contact dermatosis. Phototoxic reactions are possible. Though loaded with antis- Class 1, U.S. regulations prohibit food use at levels of 2 ppm. Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated in poor kidney function; avoid excess sunlight. Commission E reports leaf and herb EO is toxic and can produce contact dermatosis. Phototoxic reactions are possible. Though loaded with antispasmodic compounds, rue is also a poisonous plant, both internally and externally. “The plant should not be ingested, especially by pregnant women”. Having seen it applied cosmetically, and consumed internally in Peru, where I have visited regularly for a decade, I find the APA entry even more alarming. The volatile oil “can cause severe stomach pain, vomiting, convulsive twitching, life-threatening miscarriage, and other serious complications, including fatal ones, if taken in large doses”. Solvent extracts of rue have antifertility effects in rats when added to diet, even up to 10 days after coitus. With more than 40 alkaloids and 40 coumarins, this chemistry set might defy standardization concepts. LD50 EO = 2540 orl mus, LD50 EO = >5000 orl rat.

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