Rue or rue is a bitter herb that fits very well in the vegetable garden. The bluish-green plant proliferates, so you have to cut it occasionally to keep it small. The diamond bush can easily reach a height of one and a half meters. In the spring you can prune it back to the wood, after which it will grow plenty of new shoots. It is a very healthy, bitter tasting herb. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Pollination at the window
• Where does rue come from?
• Medicinal uses of rue
• Rue bracelet against epilepsy
• Rue to keep cats out of the garden
• Rue next to sage
• Smelling healing by rue
• Rue, formerly popular with beautiful girls
• Modern use by herbalists
• Eating tips rue

Pollination at the window

Rue has a funny way of pollinating. The flower has 8 stamens, but only one is standing at a time. At the bottom of the pistil are small honey containers. An insect comes along, rubs the stamen to absorb the honey. When all the pollen has been taken, the stamen bends, causing the next stamen to automatically rise. This process repeats until all stamens have had their turn.

Where does rue come from?

According to European scientists, rue originally comes from Eastern and Southern Europe. That does not explain why the Mayans and the Aztecs also knew diamonds. Today it can be found throughout Europe and North Africa, and in both Americas. It was brought across the Alps by monks of the Roman Catholic Church. The rue can grow to a height of one and a half meters and produces yellow flowers. Rue has traditionally been used in cooking and as a medicinal herb. Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine from ancient Greece, considered rue to be an important medicinal herb against snake venom. In Mediterranean regions, weasels were seen eating the tartan plant before engaging in a battle with a snake. Rue also helps against the bites of scorpions, poisonous spiders and jellyfish.Source: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons (PD)

Medicinal uses of rue

Rue used to be steeped in wine or vinegar to make your own mouthwash. It was also a remedy for fever and colds. Of course you had to drink it for this. Lozenge leaves were shredded on bread or eaten with lettuce. Eaten this way it was a means of calming the stomach.

Rue bracelet against epilepsy

In the Netherlands in the Middle Ages, a bracelet was woven from a branch of diamonds. If you put this on your wrist you were protected from epilepsy attacks. These attacks were once dedicated to spells cast by witches. In Italy, an amulet was made from rue so that witches would never attack you. Magical applications were attributed to rhombus. In Germany one could become invisible after a ritual with a snake’s head, an egg and some twigs of lozenge. In France it was known that rue could reveal hidden treasures.Source: Jeffdelonge, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Rue to keep cats out of the garden

Rue is not liked by dogs and cats. If you want to keep cats out of the garden, you can place rue in the garden. Dogs also walk with a wide arc around rue them. They know naturally that they cannot tolerate rue well. On the other hand, you can sprinkle rue leaves in the beds of dogs and cats to deter fleas.

Rue next to sage

Rue cannot grow next to every plant. Rue next to cabbages causes both crops to wither. Rue next to aconite will also not work well. Rue is planted next to sage in Italy. They do go well together. Toads are known to like to live under sage. Witches can turn themselves into a toad. Because rue was planted next to sage, witches could not do any harm in that spot.

Smelling healing by rue

In the Middle Ages, rue was famous for its healing properties when you smelled it. The strong smell is incorporated into the name in Latin; Ruta graveolens. Ruta means to loosen, gravo means very and olens means smell. It is indeed a very fragrant plant. Ingesting rue in large quantities can induce hallucinations. This herb was often added to wine by the ancient Romans. The Grappa alla Ruta still contains rue. In that sense, its use is somewhat similar to absinthe, a hallucinogenic herb that is also prepared into a strong drink. Alcohol also induces hallucinations and lucid dreams.Source: Jörg Hempel, Flickr (CC BY-SA-2.0)

Rue, formerly popular with beautiful girls

In France, rue was also called Herbes-a-la-belle-fille, which means something like beautiful girl herb. The herb was the only herb surrounded by a large fence in botanical gardens in France. This was because it was known that eating lozenge led to abortion. Therefore, this herb was so popular among young girls that it had to be protected by a fence. The Romans made oil from the lozenge which they used to induce menstruation and induce abortions.

Modern use by herbalists

Rue is now mainly used by modern herbalists for diseases related to the blood such as hemorrhoids and arteriosclerosis. It lowers blood pressure. In addition, it also expels worms from the intestines, helps the eyes to see better and reduces rheumatic pains. Ruit is used to solve breathing problems.

Eating tips rue

Besides its medicinal uses, rue is a culinary herb. It is an important spice in Ethiopia; both the leaves and the seeds are eaten. In Italy the leaves are used to season an omelet. The seeds can be used in a breakfast porridge. In FriuliVenezia Giulia, a region in the northeast of Italy, young diamond twigs are dipped in a batter and then fried. They are then sprinkled with salt and pepper. That is a very specific application. You can use rue to season potatoes. Don’t use too much rue because it tastes strong. Like chives, you can add the fresh herb to a salad, soup or hot meal when it is served.

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