Rue is one of the oldest English gardening plants used for medicine. From earliest times rue has been used to protect against contagious diseases and infestations of fleas and other insects.

It has an unexpected history of use to prevent plague, being edible, and protecting against evil. Over time, it has become less popular due to its potential for causing liver damage in large doses. It is no longer often used and only in small, safe doses.

Pliny the Elder, the early Roman naturalist, reported that rue is useful for preserving eyesight so painters commonly used rue to maintain clear, focused sight. It is said that Michelangelo and Da Vinci used the herb regularly for this purpose.

Rue is an energetic and moving herb, helping to move energy and warm the body. It helps break up food, phlegm, and stasis in the uterus, joints, or muscles. It is primarily an herb that dispels cold and breaks up conditions of chronic stagnation.

Find out more about rue, a long-used traditional, healing herb.