Rue
Ruta graveolensThe Spanish brought rue to the Americas, and Indigenous healers folded it into their own cleansing rites. Today the same plant does the same job on two continents: protecting against the evil eye.
What is Rue?
Rue (Ruta graveolens) is a plant of the Rutaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean, Andes. Part used: leaves, flowering stems.
What is Rue used for?
Traditional use: Grown at home or carried as a sprig against the evil eye. Scientific evidence: traditional. It contains furanocoumarins and rutin.
Is Rue safe?
Safety label: high risk. Touching the fresh plant and then going into the sun can cause severe skin burns (phytophotodermatitis). It can cause miscarriage and is toxic to the liver and kidneys in high doses.
Traditional use
Grown at home or carried as a sprig against the evil eye. In folk medicine it is known for bringing on menstruation and expelling worms.
In Peruvian and Bolivian markets, ruda is the core plant of limpia (cleansing) rites; it is rubbed on the body against the evil eye (mal de ojo) and “bad air” (mal aire). In northern Argentina and Bolivia, “caña con ruda” is drunk on 1 August, at the start of Pachamama’s month, to ward off winter illness.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Recognised by its blue-grey leaves and sharp smell. Picking it bare-handed and then going into the sun risks severe skin burns.
Preparation
A fresh sprig is rubbed on the body or carried in a pocket. Drinking it as tea is not recommended.
What science says
It contains furanocoumarins and rutin. Furanocoumarins make the skin highly sensitive to sunlight. Rutin is a flavonoid studied for blood vessel health; there is no clinical evidence for the plant itself.
Safety
Touching the fresh plant and then going into the sun can cause severe skin burns (phytophotodermatitis). It can cause miscarriage and is toxic to the liver and kidneys in high doses.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Blood thinners (warfarin) | Contains coumarin derivatives; may increase bleeding risk. |
| Medicines that cause sun sensitivity (some antibiotics, retinoids) | Increases the risk of phytophotodermatitis. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Rue.
Culture bridge
One plant, the evil eye on two continents. Rue is hung against the evil eye in Anatolia; in Peru, as ruda, it is the core herb of limpia cleansings. Read the comparison →
Similar plants
Sources
- ResearchRuta Essential Oils: Composition and Bioactivities
- ResearchRuta graveolens intoxication
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Ruta graveolens
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe