Uses for Ruta Graveolens

Culinary Uses

• Mediterranean cultures use rue -- a very bitter-tasting herb that can be used in small amounts to spruce up a cheese, egg or meat dish -- for pickling, stewing, in acidic tomato sauces and to add flavor to salads. Ethiopians include the herb in many of their dishes, and even add it to coffee to give it flavor.

Ornamental Gardening

• Historically, Ruta graveolens grew in ornamental gardens, with its yellow flowers appearing in floral arrangements and nosegays. Gardeners also use the herb because of its strong scent, which deters insects and other pests from nearby plants.

Medicinal

• Ruta graveolens historically served as a treatment for pain-related ailments and even the plague. Rue can cause severe allergic reactions in some people, and is poisonous in large amounts, but homeopathic practitioners and fans of alternative medicine continue to employ it in treating illness. WebMD lists some of the conditions treated by Ruta graveolens, including eye problems, headaches, stomachaches, vertigo, anxiety, cramps and hysteria, in addition to the regulation of menstrual cycles. Compresses made with rue have been used to treat insect bites, sciatica and bronchitis.

Household Uses

• According to the A 2 Z of Health, Body and Fitness website, the astringent and antiseptic qualities of rue make it an environmentally friendly option for household cleaning. The site suggests mixing rue with vinegar to create a non-toxic bathroom and kitchen cleaner, and using a satchel of dried rue in cupboards, drawers or closets as a pest repellent.