RUE RUTA GRAVEOLENS

RUE (Ruta graveolens L.) +

Used interchangeably with R. chalapensis L.

Activities (Rue) :
Abortifacient (1; AAB; APA; DEP; PHR; PH2); Acaricide (f; IHB); Allergenic (1; PH2); Analgesic (f; FEL; HH2; VVG); Anaphrodisiac (f; DEP; MAD); Antiatherogenic (1; CRC); Antibacterial (1; AAB; APA; WBB); Anticapillary Fragility (1; CRC; VVG; WBB); Antiexudative (1; PH2); Antifertility (1; PH2; TAD); Antihistaminic (1; CRC; WBB); Antiinflammatory (1; CRC); Antioxidant (f; WBB); Antiseptic (1; PH2); Antispasmodic (1; AAB; APA; JFM; PH2); Antithrombic (1; CRC); Antitussive (1; APA); Aperitif (f; EFS); Aphrodisiac (f; CRC; MAD); Astringent (1; APA); Bitter (1; APA); Carminative (f; MAD); Chemopreventive (1; CRC); Choleretic (f; CRC; MAD); CNS Stimulant (f; JFM); Collyrium (f; WBB); Contraceptive (1; PHR; PH2); Decongestant (f; JFM); Diaphoretic (f; JFM); Ecbolic (f; WBB); Emetic (1; JFM); Emmenagogue (1; AAB; APA; JFM); Fungicide (1; APA); Hemostat (f; CRC; EFS); Hirudicide (1; CRC; HH2); Hypotensive (1; CRC; WBB); Insectifuge (1; AAB; APA); Insecticide (1; CRC); Memorigenic (f; DEP; IHB); Myorelaxant (1; APA); Nematicide (1; CRC); Nervine (f; EFS; MAD); Phototoxic (1; CRC; PH2); Radioprotective (f; CRC; WBB); Rubefacient (1; JFM); Sedative (1; APA); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic (f; JFM; WBB); Uterotonic (1; AHP; CRC; PH2); Vermicide (1; AAB; APA; CRC); Vermifuge (1; EFS; HH2; JFM; WBB).

Indications (Rue) :
Adenopathy (f; JLH); Ague (f; CRC); Amenorrhea (f; CRC); Anorexia (f; EFS); Asthenia (f; MAD); Asthma (f; WBB); Atherosclerosis (1; CRC); Backache (f; AAB; PH2); Bacteria (1; AAB; APA; WBB); Bleeding (f; CRC; EFS); Blepharosis (f; MAD); Bruise (f; PH2); Cancer (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, breast (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, mouth (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, rectum (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, testicle (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; CRC; JLH); Capillary Fragility (1; CRC; VVG; WBB); Cardiopathy (f; JFM; MAD; WBB); Childbirth (f; AAB; CRC; WBB); Colic (f; DEP; WBB); Congestion (f; JFM; MAD); Conjunctivosis (f; MAD); Convulsion (f; VVG; WBB); Corn (f; JLH); Cough (1; APA; CRC; DEM); Cramp (1; AAB; APA; JFM; PHR; PH2); Croup (f; CRC; WOI); CVI (1; VVG); Dermatosis (f; PHR; PH2); Diarrhea (f; PHR; PH2; WBB); Dysmenorrhea (1; APA; PH2; WBB); Dyspepsia (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Earache (f; DEM; PHR; PH2; VVG; WBB); Edema (1; CRC); Encephalosis (f; HH2); Enterosis (1; APA; CRC; PH2); Epilepsy (f; AAB; DEP; EL; HH2; VVG; WBB); Epistaxis (f; MAD); Escherichia (f; HH2); Fever (f; AAB; IHB; JFM; PHR; PH2; VVG); Fibroid (f; JLH); Fit (f; VVG; WBB); Fungus (1; APA; JLH); Gangrene (f; DEM); Gas (f; MAD); Gingivosis (f; JFM); Gout (f; MAD; VVG); Headache (f; AAB; JFM); Head Cold (f; MAD); Heart (f; CRC); Hemorrhoid (f; MAD); Hepatosis (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; CRC; VVG; WBB); Hysteria (f; DEM; DEP; HH2; VVG; WBB); Induration (f; CRC); Infection (1; APA; DEM; PHR; PH2); Inflammation (1; CRC; PH2); Insomnia (1; APA; HH2); Ischiosis (f; MAD); Jaundice (f; WBB); Lumbago (f; MAD); Measles (f; CRC; JFM); Multiple Sclerosis (f; HH2); Myalgia (f; AAB); Mycosis (1; APA); Nausea (f; AAB); Nerves (f; AAB); Nervousness (1; APA); Neuralgia (f; MAD); Neurasthenia (f; MAD); Nightmare (f; CRC); Ophthalmia (f; JFM); Ozena (f; MAD); Pain (1; DEM; FEL; HH2; VVG); Palsy (f; DEM); Paralysis (f; DEM); Pharyngosis (f; PHR; PH2); Psoriasis (1; CRC); Respirosis (f; WBB); Rheumatism (f; PH2; VVG); Rhinosis (f; JFM); Scabies (f; IHB); Scarlet Fever (f; CRC; JFM; WBB); Sciatica (f; CRC); Scirrhus (f; CRC); Scleroma (f; CRC); Shock (1; JFM; WBB); Spine (f; PH2); Sprain (f; PH2); Staphylococcus (1; HH2); Stomachache (f; DEM; MAD); Stomatosis (f; PHR); Stroke (f; CRC); Syncope (f; AAB); Thrombosis (1; CRC); Ticks (f; IHB); Toothache (f; PHR; PH2; VVG; WBB); Tuberculosis (1; AAB); Typhoid (f; WBB); Uterosis (f; CRC; PHR); Varicosis (1; MAD; PH2); Vertigo (f; CRC; DEP; MAD); Wart (f; CRC; JLH); Whitlow (f; JLH); Worm (1; AAB; APA; CRC; PH2).

Dosages (Rue) :
Should not be used (APA); 0–1.5 g herb as emmenagogue (MAD); 0.5–1 g herb, several ×/day (PH2); 1–2 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day (RFW); 1–2 g dried herb (PNC); herb juice applied directly in earache and toothache (PH2), not me; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 2–6 drops EO (HH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Rue) :
Class 1 (AHP), U.S. regulations prohibit food use at levels of 2 ppm. Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated in poor kidney function; avoid excess sunlight (AHP). Commission E reports leaf and herb EO is toxic and can produce contact dermatosis. Phototoxic reactions are possible (furocoumarins) (AEH). Though loaded with antis- pasmodic compounds, rue is also a poisonous plant, both internally and externally. “The plant should not be ingested, especially by pregnant women” (LRNP-July 1989). 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” (APA, citing LAF). Solvent extracts of rue have antifertility effects in rats when added to diet, even up to 10 days after coitus (TAD). With more than 40 alkaloids and 40 coumarins, this chemistry set might defy standardization concepts. LD50 EO = 2540 orl mus (HH2), LD50 EO = >5000 orl rat (HH2).