Rue Health Dictionary

FAMILY: Rutaceae

SYNONYMS: Garden rue, herb-of-grace, herbygrass.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An ornamental, shrubby herb with tough, woody branches, small, smooth, bluish-green leaves and greeny yellow flowers. The whole plant has a strong, aromatic, bitter or acrid scent.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to the Mediterranean region; found growing wild extensively in Spain, Morocco, Corsica, Sardinia and Algeria. It is cultivated mainly in France and Spain for its oil; also in Italy and Yugoslavia.

OTHER SPECIES: There are several different types of rue, such as the summer rue (R. montana), winter rue (R.chalepensis) and Sardinian rue (R. angustifolia), which are also used to produce essential oils.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: A favoured remedy of the ancients, especially as an antidote to poison. It was seen as a magic herb by many cultures and as a protection against evil. It was also used for nervous afflictions. ‘It helps disorders in the head, nerves and womb, convulsions and hysteric fits, the colic, weakness of the stomach and bowels; it resists poison and cures venomous bites.’.

ACTIONS: Antitoxic, antitussive, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, emmenagogue, insecticidal, nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the fresh herb.

CHARACTERISTICS: A yellow or orange viscous mass which generally solidifies at room temperature, with a sharp, herbaceous-fruity acrid odour. The winter rue oil does not solidify at room temperature.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Mainly methyl nonyl ketone (90 per cent in summer rue oil).

SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin (due to main constituent). Skin and mucous membrane irritant. Abortifacient. ‘Rue oil should never be used in perfumery or flavour work.’ .

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should not be used at all in aromatherapy.’.

OTHER USES: Employed as a source of methyl nonyl ketone.