Rowan Remedies

Latin:Ruta graveolens

Also Known As: Herb of Grace, Herbygrass, Herb of Repentance, Ruta, Rewe, Garden Rue, Bashoush, Hreow, Mother of the Herbs

Family:Rutaceae

Habitat and Description: Rue is a low growing perennial with rather pretty, blue green, lobed and slightly ruffly leaves growing from a fairly thick, solid central stem. The leaves are covered with a dusky bloom that becomes more pronounced on the older leaves, the younger leaves being a brighter, cleaner shade of green. The flowers appear in July and August and are small and yellow in colour with five petals, and are followed by crescent shaped seeds that are black in colour. Rue is often grown as a garden plant, and does not grow wild here in the UK. It is native to southern Europe. The leaves taste acrid and bitter, with a faint hint of almond and coconut in the flavour. Not very pleasant, really! The plant itself is really very pretty though, unsurprising given that it has been a popular garden plant for some time. The only real draw back is that touching it can cause contact dermatitis in some people.

The plant grows up to 2 feet tall, and prefers poor or medium quality soil with good drainage. It likes lots of sun, unsurprising given that it is originally a mediterranean plant. Apparently the plant does not grow well near mint or basil. I wonder if this applies when the mint grows in a tub across the courtyard? My Rue plant is rather sickly and while it hasn’t died yet, it certainly doesn’t seem overly happy where it is!

Parts Used: Aerial parts

Constituents: Rue contains a wide range of constituents, including volatile oils such as limonene and menthol; quercetin; rutin and related other flavonoids; coumarins such as bergapten and psoralen; alkaloids and Lignans. Rutin strengthens the walls of the cardiovascular system. The plant contains about 0.01% volatile oils.

Planetary Influence: Sun / Mars. Personally I’m more inclined to say Mars simply because this is such a harsh flavoured plant, but that is, of course, personal bias. Looking at it from the other side of the fence, the sun is associated with the eyes in astrological medicine, and as Rue does have an effect on the eyes, it is equally as likely that the plant is ruled by the sun after all. I don’t suppose it really matters in the great scheme of things since both planets are hot and dry – the only different really is a matter of degree.

Associated Deities and Heroes: Associated with Aradia and her counterpart Diana, Hermes, Horus, Mars, Mercury, Odysseus and Menthu

Festival: None that I can see.

Constitution: Hot and dry

Actions and Indications: Rue has long had a reputation as a useful eye herb, in the treatment of conjunctivitis and cataracts, as well as acting as an ocular muscle strengthener. It has also been used as a way to treat headaches resulting from eye strain, and problems such as sciatica, ganglion that form over nerve endings and, most recently, Multiple Sclerosis. Some trials have been done on MS sufferers drinking a cup of Rue tea each day and improvement has been noted, however as this is a very harsh herb I would strongly recommend that people do not dabble in this at home but find a qualified herbalist to advise them. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

Rue has also been used to strengthen the walls of the veins and arteries, probably due to the rutin content, as well as to ease arterial tension, relieve hypertension and varicose veins and to soothe palpitations and panic attacks – the fresh leaves can be chewed on for the latter action. They taste vile. Trust me. The herb is very good for those who suffer from blood stagnation, where this has caused a variety of unpleasant complaints afflicting both the digestive and cardiovascular system.

The plant can also be used to treat some digestive upsets such as colic and dyspepsia where this has a strong nervous element. Being rather bitter, it also stimulates the liver and is carminative, stomachic and antiflatulent. As it is an anti spasmodic, it can be used for spasmodic conditions of the digestive system.

Lastly, Rue has long had a reputation as a woman’s herb, as it brings on the menses, relieves the pain of childbirth and eases menstrual pain in general. It is a tonic to the female reproductive tract, in particular the uterus and ovaries. It has been used as an abortifacient for many hundreds of years, and is well deserving of its reputation.

Topically, a salve or ointment of Rue can be used to ease rheumatic complaints as it is rubefacient – it draws blood to the area and warms things up. It can be used for sprains, strains and gouts as well, though if you have shown any kind of allergic reaction to a plant it might be best to give this a miss – the coumarin content can cause a bit of a reaction if you aren’t careful.

Spiritual and Energetic Uses: Rue is particularly good for encouraging creativity and inner vision in artists and craftspeople. Some list this particular use under magic and folklore, however I think this is more of an energetic use, personally. After all, both Leonardo and Michelangelo used Rue extensively to improve both their eyesight and their artistic vision – its hard to argue with that!

It is well suited to people who suppress their ‘negative’ emotions such as anger and helplessness, where this has led to physical tension, especially presenting in the vascular system. It would also suit phlegmatic people who suppress great turmoil under seemingly calm surfaces – especially where this has led to them developing hypertension accompanied by a red complexion and possibly reddish colouring to the whites of the eyes. The temper tends to be explosive in this sort of person and they may present as having an overly ‘hot’ temperament that would not be suited by another hot plant like Rue.

Magical Uses: Magically, Rue has a pretty wide array of uses. It is used for health and healing and any spells and workings related to these two issues. It can be worn in a pouch around the neck to protect the wearer from ill health and to speed healing from any health issues they currently suffer from. The dried herb can be added to healing incenses and poppets created to enhance healing.

The plant can be added to spells to remove hexes and curses and to exorcise unwanted spirits from a home or area. Baths made with the addition of rue remove spells that have been done on or against you, and an incense of rue is used to exorcise. It can be added to sachets hung at doors and windows for protection of the household, and the fresh juice applied to the floorboards send harmful magic back to the person who caused it. Fresh rue sprigs can be used to sprinkle salt water through a home to remove negativity and purify it.

Rue grown in the garden is protective, and fresh rue juice can be mixed with dew and used in spells for protection. Rue has quite the reputation as a powerful visionary herb.

Folklore: The use of Rue dates back thousands of years – the ancient Greeks used it as part of one of their general poison antidotes, one that went by the name of ‘mithridate’. The latin name ‘Ruta’ comes from the Greek ‘reuo’, meaning ‘to free’, probably referring to the plant’s long history as a healing agent.

A 9th century monk by the name of Walahfrid Strabo liked to grow Rue in his garden but was under the impression that it was safe to pick in the morning, but when picked any later in the day the plant became poisonous. The plant was also a part of the infamous ‘four thieves vinegar’, used by the four French thieves who liked to steal from the bodies of plague victims. The plant’s reputation continued up till fairly recent history – a rumour broke out in 1760 that plague had appeared at a London hospital, and as a result the price of Rue on the markets shot up. It was used as a strewing herb to protect the general public from infection.

As with many herbs, Rue has a long association with witchcraft, and was apparently used in a lot of different potion recipes. One interesting story concerning this is the two differing opinions on why it was associated with witchcraft. The Greek theory stated that it was used against the witchcraft of strangers. Aristotle had a much more rational opinion on this, and decided that as the Greeks were not good at eating with strangers, they ate too quickly and became flatulent as a result. The Rue calmed flatulence, and made them think that therefore it cancelled the spells that any strangers cast on them.

As with many of the herbs associated with witchcraft, Rue can be used to both enhance spells and to deflect them. Rue hung over doorways supposedly prevents witches from entering, and was the herb given to Odysseus as a protection from Circe’s spells and to counter the effects of her potions.

Rue roots apparently give a red dye, particularly useful in the creation of solar or martial spells or fabric used in temples to solar Gods or Mars.

Dose: Dose for this herb is very low, 1g of the dried herb three times a day or equivalent tincture dose. A sufficient daily dosage is between 0.5mls and 1ml three times a day as it can make you vomit if you take too much of it. Personally I would not use more than 20mls across a week’s medicine and that really is the upper limits of dosage.

Contraindications: Use with caution if you tend towards heavy periods as it can make these worse. Avoid during pregnancy as it is abortifacient. High doses can cause nausea. Use with caution if you are taking anticoagulant medicine such as warfarin.

Brought to you by Alex English at http://www.eldrumherbs.co.uk