Rue (Ruta)
Family; Rutaceae
English: Rues
It is one of those plants that make a roaring presence in the Greek countryside in spring. In spite of its disagreeable odor, Rue has been valued as a medicinal herb since antiquity.
Rue is a perennial, shrubby plant; the leaves are alternate, bluish-green, bi or tripinnate and the flowers are greenish-yellow in terminal panicles. The following species are found in the wild in Greece: Ruta graveolens, R. chalepensis, R. montana. In antiquity Rue was considered as a potent antidote to poisoning. The famous antidote used by Mithridates was made from pestled leaves of Rue. Pliny reports that painters would add Rue to their meals as they believed in the plant's efficacy to preserve sight. The ancient Greeks and Cretans credited rue with antimagical qualities and used it to make lucky charms. For example, mothers would wrap dried rue in a small piece of cloth and sew it in their children's wear. The Chinese considered rue as an antidote to snake and scorpion bites.
Rue is a very efficacious herb in a variety of diseases, a potent medicine that should be used with caution even by expert botanists and herbal healers. Rue is an active irritant and contact with the skin may cause an unpleasant experience.
The volatile oil of rue is used in homeopathy, particularly in cases of rheumatism and neuralgia. Rue is thought to heal wounds, ascribed astringent and hemostatic qualities.
Popular Greek names:
"Sentefi" or "Piganos", "Vromohorto", "Siderohorto".
