Ruta

Ruta is a perennial herb that belongs to the Rutaceae family. Rue got its name from the Greek word "reuo" - "for liberation", this plant helped in the treatment of various diseases. Rue is popularly known as fragrant rue, garden rue, eye rue, noble rue, grasshopper, yalovnik, German rue, wine rue and others.

Titles in other languages:

• in German - Raute, Augenraute, Edelraute, Gnadenkraut, Ruta;
• in English - rue, herb of grace;
• in French - rue, rue fétide.

Rue refers to perennial herbs, sometimes found as a subshrub of a grayish-green hue. The stems of the plant are straight, branched, slightly woody near the base, reaching a height of 20 to 50 cm. The leaves of the rue are alternate, do not have stipules and contain an essential oil with a strong pleasant aroma. The lower and middle leaves are placed on long petioles, and the upper ones are sessile.

The flowers of the plant are regular, bisexual and four-dimensional. They have a yellow-green hue and are collected in a semi-umbrella inflorescence. The sepals are triangular in shape, reaching a length of up to 2.5 mm. The petals are boat-shaped, yellow, 6-9 mm long. The fruits of the rue are presented in the form of a four- or five-cell box, the length of which is up to 7 mm. Each box contains black seeds that have a lateral germ and endosperm.

About 40 species of this plant are known to science, but the most widespread are:

• large-leaved (Ruta macrophylla)
• mountain (Ruta montana)
• fragrant (Ruta graveolens)
• winter (Ruta chalepensis)
• garden (Ruta hortensis)
• narrow-leaved (Ruta angustifolia)

This perennial plant can be found in the temperate zone of Asia, in Northeast Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean, in North and South America. Therefore, on almost every continent, people know about this plant.

Only one species of this genus grows in Russia - fragrant Ruta. This is an annual plant, it freezes at the first frost. Only in the west of the country can this plant survive the winter in the soil. In Russia, rue is mainly grown as an ornamental or spice plant. On the territory of Poland and Ukraine, rue is used for medicinal purposes and added to food. Although its healing properties are rarely used, since the plant is poisonous.

• Before the rue blooms, only its leaves are collected, and rubber gloves must be worn to avoid allergic reactions after touching it.
• The leaves need to be dried in places with good ventilation away from direct sunlight, so attics, sheds or dryers can be used, where the air temperature should not exceed 30 degrees.
• Dried grass acquires a pleasant aroma and no longer causes a rash on the skin.
• Dry leaves should be stored in paper bags for no more than one year.
• Before using the spice, the leaves must be crushed.

Dry crushed leaves perfectly emphasize the taste of fish dishes, give them a special aroma, a bit reminiscent of a rose. Also, in dry form, the leaves are added to lamb, vegetable salads, egg or cheese dishes.Powdered spice is added to a large number of meat, fish, vegetable or mushroom dishes. Vinegar thanks to this spice acquires a special pleasant aroma.

• The plant has a fragrant smell, which, after drying, is very reminiscent of the smell of a rose.
• Rue is pungent, savory and bitter in taste.
• Gives dishes a special aroma and pleasant taste.
• The rue flowers in June and July, and the fruits can be harvested in August and September.
• This plant can be propagated in two ways: vegetatively or with the help of seeds.
• Rue is a poisonous plant, so it must be used with extreme caution.

Rue leaves contain:

• essential oil (0.25–1.2%)
• tannins
• resinous substances
• bitter substances
• flavonoids (mainly the flavone glycoside rutin)
• furocoumarins (0.5–1%)
• alkaloids
• coumarins
• lignans,
• Savinin
• graveollenic acid
• acronicin,
• bergapten
• vitamin C (156.6 mg/%)
• vitamin E
• B vitamins
• other biologically active substances.

The composition of the essential oil contained in the leaves includes cineole, pinene, L-limonene, bergapten, santoxin, xanthotoxin, methylparanonylcarbinol and methylparaheptylcarbinol.

Rue fruits contain traces of skimmiamin (0.018%) and cocusaginin, and its roots contain coumarin, furocoumarins, alkaloids and essential oil.

• Ruta is an anti-inflammatory agent, therefore it is widely used in dentistry.
• Infusions and decoctions from this plant have an antibacterial effect on the body.
• Ruta helps to get rid of worms.
• The components of the plant have sedative and anticonvulsant properties.
• A decoction of rue is used as a general tonic and tonic.
• For external use, rue is used in the form of lotions and rinses.
• The juice of the plant has a detoxifying effect on the body.

Rue is a poisonous plant, so you need to be careful with it. If you use this herb in large quantities, then a large accumulation of essential oils can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which appears in increased salivation and swelling of the tongue. Sometimes there are cases of intoxication, which are accompanied by a slowing of the pulse, a decrease in body temperature, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

You can’t touch the plant with your hands, because when it comes into contact with the skin, an allergy occurs, which is manifested by swelling, itching, redness, and a rash in the form of watery blisters. It is strictly forbidden to use rue during pregnancy and lactation.

• individual intolerance;
• pregnancy;
• hypotension;
• hyperacid gastritis;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach;
• diseases of the duodenum;
• allergy.

The essential oil is poisonous to humans if taken in large doses. With the right dosage, little has many useful properties, such as anthelmintic, bactericidal, abortive, anesthetic, helps with convulsions.

In India, rue oil helps in the treatment of impotence, has an antiseptic and tonic effect. When applied externally, it helps in the treatment of allergic manifestations, various wounds and ulcers, and is also used in the treatment of rickets and rheumatism.The essential oil of the plant is used to create perfumes, and cognac and oriental liquor are also produced on its basis.

• As a condiment, rue is added to vegetable salads or other vegetable dishes.
• Dried leaves perfectly complement the taste of meat fillings or lamb stew.
• Rue serves as an excellent flavoring for vinegar.
• This plant is added when preserving tomatoes or cucumbers.
• Rue gives a special flavor to cocktails made from vegetables or berries.
• Piquant bitterness of rue harmoniously complements cranberry drinks and sandwiches (black bread with butter).

In order not to spoil the dish, you need to adhere to a certain proportion. So, for 1 serving you need to take no more than 0.15 grams of rue. Ruta harmonizes perfectly with other spices like thyme, rosemary, garlic, marjoram, cumin, sage. This seasoning is added a few minutes before the dish is fully cooked, because under the influence of heat treatment, useful properties and aroma are lost.

Ruta is not used in official medicine, but this does not reduce its beneficial properties. In traditional medicine preparations, this plant helps to cope with various ailments and diseases:

• disorders of the nervous system;
• atherosclerosis;
• menopause or irregular menstruation;
• Strong headache;
• epilepsy;
• impotence;
• rheumatism;
• gout;
• myopia;
• spasms in the gastrointestinal tract;
• strengthen blood vessels;
• scrofula;
• rickets;
• helps with bites of poisonous insects;
• lowers blood pressure;
• with severe bruises, the rue is used externally.

Ruta has a positive effect on the state of the whole organism, tones it, helps to overcome fatigue and calm the nerves. Rue-based products help to relax smooth muscles.

Some recipes based on rue that help with various diseases:

• with varicose veins - infusion: 2 table. spoons of rue should be placed in a glass container, pour 200 ml of vodka into it and put in a dark place for 10 days. Then the infusion must be filtered with gauze. It is necessary to dilute 10 drops in 1 table. spoons of water and take 3 times a day;
• with beriberi - you need to take 1 table. a spoonful of rue leaves, 2 table. spoons of grass tricolor violets and 2 table. spoons of black elderberry flowers, mix all the ingredients. Pour 200 ml of water over the herbs and boil for a few minutes. It is necessary to use a decoction of 100 ml 2 times a day;
• with nervous disorders - take 25 grams of rue leaves and 25 grams of crushed valerian roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water, let it brew a little, strain and drink the remedy during the day;
• with irregular menstrual cycle - take rue leaves and parsley seeds in a ratio of 1: 2, for 1 table. a spoonful of a mixture of herbs will need 400 ml of water. The broth is boiled for 10 minutes, and then they drink 200 ml at a time during the day.

To date, the most famous decorative types of rue are:

• Blue Jackman (Jackman's Blue) - characterized by the blue color of the leaves;
• Variegata (Variegata) - this variety is distinguished by green leaves with white-cream spots;
• Blue lace - has openwork foliage of a bluish tint.

Ruta belongs to unpretentious plants, because it perfectly tolerates the absence of moisture and can germinate in direct sunlight. It can be planted in any garden soil. If you use calcareous, gravelly, loamy or carbonate soils, then the rue will feel great.

This plant can be propagated in various ways: using seeds, using cuttings or dividing the bush.

First, the soil should be prepared: dig up the soil to about half a meter deep and apply mineral fertilizers. Sowing of the plant occurs in the middle or end of autumn, as well as in the first month of spring.

If the plant is grown with the help of seeds, then they must be planted in early March in home pots and wait for seedlings to emerge. When the leaves reach the 3-4 phase of development, then the rue can be dived. It is planted in separate pots, because in this way the plant will be stronger for planting in open ground. Seedlings are planted in early July. The rue does not need special care, then from time to time it is necessary to weed, fertilize and loosen.

If the seeds are sown immediately into the ground in early spring, then you should know that the consumption of seeds increases significantly, and the plant can be used as an ornamental only after a year.

For planting, a wide-row method is used, while the width between rows should be from 70 to 100 cm. Rue seeds are planted to a depth of 2–3 cm. When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to thin out the sowing with an interval of 20–25 cm. You can occasionally feed the plant with mineral fertilizer . The plant is perennial, so it tolerates frost well without additional shelter. Rue is immune to diseases and pests.

• Even in ancient Rome, the rue was a talisman against witchcraft, so they always carried it with them to avoid the evil eye. To protect housing, a small bush of rue was hung over the front door.
• The aroma of rue helps relieve arousal in men, so during the Middle Ages it was actively planted in the gardens of monasteries.
• Rue was used for disinfectant purposes. So, during the plague, they rubbed the whole body with it, and its smoke was used to disinfect the premises.