23 Dec Wed 2015
RUE, AN UNSAFE HERB
RUE Ruta graveolensL.,Ruta chalepensisL.,Ruta montanaL., andRuta bracteosaL. Family: Rutaceae
Common Name(s):Rue , common rue , garden rue , fringed rue , Herb of Grace , German rue . Not to be confused with meadow rue ( Thalictrum spp.)
Other Names:
Common Rue, Garden Rue, German Rue, Herb-of-Grace, Herbe à la Belle-Fille, Herbe de Grâce, Herbe de Repentance, Herbe de la Rue, Herbygrass, Raute, Ruda, Ruda de Castilla, Rue Fétide, Rue des Jardins, Rue Officinale, Rue Puante, Ruta Grav, Ruta ...
In the Middle Ages and later, it was considered - in many parts of Europe - a powerful defense against witches, and was used in many spells. Talk about superstitious! This herb goes way back in ancient history, which is where it belongs.
RUE was used for a very long list of ailments such as: digestion problems, including loss of appetite, upset stomach, and diarrhea, heart and circulation problems including heart palpitations, hardening of the arteries(arteriosclerosis), breathing problems including pain and coughing due to swelling around the lungs (pleurisy),
headache, arthritis, cramps, and muscle; nervous system problems , epilepsy, multiple sclerosis , and Bell's palsy, fever, hemorrhage, hepatitis, “weakness of the eyes,” water retention, intestinal worm infestations, and mouth cancer. Rue was also used for snakebites, pinworms, tapeworms. Rue is also used to kill bacteria and fungus. Some women use Rue for menstrual problems, to stimulate the uterus, and to cause an abortion. Rue is sometimes applied directly to the skin to treat arthritis, dislocations, sprains, injuries of the bone, swollen skin, earaches, toothaches, headaches, tumors, and warts; and as an insect repellent. WOW! Did we leave anything out?
According to WEBMED: “ Rue is UNSAFE when used as a medicine. When taken by mouth, it can cause side effects such as stomach irritation, changes in mood, sleep problems, dizziness, spasms, serious kidney and liver damage, and death. When applied to the skin, it can cause rash and increased sensitivity to the sun.”
It is UNSAFE for anyone to use rue in medicinal amounts, but people with the following conditions are especially likely to experience dangerous side effects:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is UNSAFE for both mother and unborn child to take rue during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Rue can cause uterine contractions, which can cause a miscarriage. That’s why rue is used to cause an abortion. But it also has serious effects for the mother; she can die using this stuff!
Stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) problems: Rue can make existing GI problems worse
Kidney and urinary tract problems: Rue can harm the kidney and irritate the urinary tract.
Liver problems: Rue can make existing liver problems worse
RUE is used as an insect repellant. Topical use of Rue can cause the skin to blister. Rubbing fresh rue leaves on the forehead to cure a headache, if one is exposed to the sun will bring on a dermatitis condition that will be much worse than the headache!
Another harmful and dangerous herb that herbalists should not even bother to grow, let alone, sell!
Consumer Reports Joseph Mosquera, M.D.
Webmd
The Honest Herbal by Varro E. Tyler
http://www.encyclopedia.com/
The Complete Guide to HERBAL MEDICINES BY Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila
Know Your Poisonous Plants by Wilma Roberts James
An Illustrated Guide to 101 Medicinal Herbs by Steven Foster
I know this is an old article but I came across it while researching this plant to convince my neighbor to dig his up. My daughter fell into this plant one sunny afternoon in May of 2015. It's now March 9, 2017 and she has scars from where this plant burned her with second degree burns and blisters. The Doctors don't know if the scars will fade over time or not but considering it's almost 2 years on, probably not. This is an extremely dangerous plant that no one has the business of growing in a neighborhood yard with children around.