Ruta - legends and beliefs about flowers. What is fragrant rue, rue "lace"? What is "chervona ruta"

Ruta in Greek means "to save". She gave the name to an extensive family of plants (rue), which includes Amur velvet ( corkwood), a beautiful, but very poisonous ash tree (burning bush) and citrus fruits: lemon, orange, tangerine.

Already two and a half thousand years ago, rue was known to the ancient Greeks, they used it as a spice.

The birthplace of rue is the African and European coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. From here it spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and China.

The first to use rue as a medicine was King Mithridates VI Eupator (63 BC), the ruler of the Pontic kingdom, whose capital was located near present-day Kerch.

There is a legend that King Mithridates was considered a great connoisseur of poisons and antidotes, he took in small doses all poisons known then, and thus accustomed his body to their action.

And when his army was defeated by the Romans, he could not poison himself and was forced to throw himself on the sword. Mount Mithridates near the city of Kerch, on which he died, bears his name.

Since then, the rue has spread in the Crimea, where it still grows wild everywhere.

FROM light hand Mithridates, rue has long been considered a universal antidote. It was used as a remedy for poisoning and bites of poisonous reptiles and insects. In ancient times, they wrote about her: "... you drink, and the hops will pass, eat raw and you will expel poisons."

IN Ancient Rome it was considered a remedy for witchcraft. The Romans believed that rue helped against the evil eye. They carried it with them, hung it over the door to protect themselves from poisons, werewolves and all sorts of misfortunes.

Until now, there is a popular belief that snakes do not crawl near places where rue grows.

In the Middle Ages, rue was widely distributed in monastery gardens, due to its ability to relieve sexual arousal in men. The famous German physician Bock (XVI century.

), wrote: "... All monks and religious people who want to preserve innocence and purity should constantly use rue in food and drinks." It was also considered the best disinfectant.

People rubbed the body with rue to protect themselves from the plague, and the rooms were disinfected with its smoke.

This plant is mentioned in all medical writings of that time.

To date, rue is included in the pharmacopoeias of 8 countries of the world. It serves as a raw material for the preparation of numerous herbal preparations used for the treatment of arthritis, articular rheumatism, neuralgia, and also for the production of rutin.

Infusion and decoctions of rue inhibit the development of Staphylococcus aureus, stop the growth of fungi - pathogens; fresh leaf juice good antiseptic. The essential oil has bactericidal and anesthetic properties.

In fact, the medicinal properties of rue are not fully understood. However, the use of rue with therapeutic purpose requires great care and should only take place under medical supervision, rue is poisonous in overdose.

Therefore, in this article I will not consider extensive medicinal properties of this plant, give recipes for the preparation of various preparations and methods for harvesting raw materials for these purposes.

I will dwell on the description of rue as a spice and even ... as an ornamental plant.

© Natsubon-kinkin

Description.

Ruta is a small perennial evergreen shrub 50-70 cm high, with an upright branched lignified stem and lower parts of the branches. Annually, non-lignified shoots die off.

In harsh winters, without shelter, the entire ground part may die, but it is annually restored from the root. Lives in the middle lane for 20 or more years. The lignified parts of the plant have a straw-yellow color.

Leaves and non-lignified shoots are bluish green. The leaves are petiolate, twice or thrice pinnate, triangular or almost obovate in general outline. In the light in the leaves, receptacles (light dots) with essential oil are noticeable.

Rue owes its Latin name Ruta graveolens to this oil - odorous rue. The smell of rue is strong and rather heavy, and not everyone likes it.

But when dried, the smell changes, becomes pleasant and resembles the aroma of a rose, so it has been used as a spicy plant for many centuries.

Ruta is photophilous and drought-resistant, not demanding on soils, grows well on crushed stone, calcareous, carbonate, loamy soils. The plant tolerates drought better than excess moisture.

Flowering lasts from June to August. Ruta is a good honey plant, the bees buzz around her. Her inflorescence is loose corymbose, yellow flowers with four petals.

The fruits are a spherical capsule with four “compartments”, on short legs and with small horns on each slice. Dry inflorescences with fruits are very decorative and are used for dry bouquets.

The boxes contain black seeds that ripen in September - October and remain viable for more than 5 years.

Ruta is a rather unpretentious plant, does not require special care, grows in one place without reducing the yield, 5-6 years.

Rue bushes, because of its bluish-green, bluish lacy foliage, are very decorative. Therefore, decorators often use it - they plant it in flower beds or plant it as a border plant. Ruta tolerates a haircut well.

Reproduction.

Rue is propagated by seeds. If you have collected seeds from your plants, then it is better to sow them before winter, because the first 4-5 months. after harvesting, the seeds do not germinate. You can purchase packaged seeds from seed stores.

In particular, I bought the seeds of the Semko agricultural company and sowed them for seedlings in March-April in seedling boxes, the seeds sprouted together after 7-10 days. After the threat of returning frosts had passed, the seedlings were planted on permanent place according to the scheme 20-25x50-60 cm.

Then I replanted the plants more than once. Ruta tolerates the transplant very well.

In the first year, seedlings usually do not grow above 10-12 cm. You can cover them for the winter, this ensures that most young plants will overwinter.

In my case, shelter was not made, but all the bushes overwintered, even the ground part was preserved, perhaps this is due to the favorable weather of that winter. In the future, the plants can not be covered.

True, then they grow later in the spring and at first, until many branches appear, they are not decorative.

In the spring, frozen, dead branches should be cut to the first bud and feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizer (preferably urea).

You can also propagate the rue by dividing the bush or green cuttings, which are rooted under a film cover.

Rue has no diseases and pests, but young bushes can be oppressed by weeds, so they need to be weeded regularly.

This plant can cause skin irritation, burns, so it is advisable to place it where a person has less contact with it. Just in case, all work with the root is best done with gloves.

Application in cooking.

The leaves and seeds of rue are used as a dried spice. As noted above, when dried, they acquire a pleasant aroma.

Rue is seasoned with salads, stewed lamb, meat fillings, omelets, fish dishes, potato soups. The plant is used in canning.

Black bread sandwiches with cream cheese harmonize especially well with the spicy bitterness inherent in rue (perhaps the recipe for this cheese has ancient roots, remember, at the very beginning of the article it was said about the use of rue spice by the ancient Greeks ?, so, there is evidence that the Greek philosopher Socrates, inviting one of his friends to visit, promised to treat him with cheese and rue ...).

Rue flavored vinegar acquires the original taste and smell.

Since this plant has a strong aroma and taste, it should be added to food as a spice in moderation.

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In order to use rue as a spice, it is necessary to harvest its greens before flowering or at its very beginning.

Non-lignified leafy twigs no more than 20 cm long with buds and 1-2 blooming flowers are cut with secateurs. Dried in the shade in bunches. The material must be green. Store in a dark dry place.

In the light, the rue quickly fades, almost to white, and loses its activity. Keep no more than two years.

First time zoned Russian variety vegetable rue Lacemaker. It compares favorably with a more “smart” appearance.

Source: https://www.botanichka.ru/article/rue/

Ruta is fragrant, it is Ruta odorous - a widespread perennial and herbaceous subshrub as part of the Rutov family. Translation of the name of the flower from Greek means "save".

The plant can grow up to seventy centimeters in height. In the lower part, at the base, it has a woody trunk with numerous branches. The shoots of the plant have a muted green color, and the leaves have a regular arrangement.

The lower and middle located of them are twice, and sometimes thrice dissected, with the formation of segments of an oblong-lanceolate shape. The upper leaflets are usually sessile, with pinnate dissection into smaller caliber segments.

All leaves have multiple dots, resembling needle puncture marks.

Ruta has loose inflorescences apically located and corymbose in shape. The greenish-yellow flower contains four triangular green sepals, four yellow petals up to nine millimeters and a single pistil.

The fruits of the plant look like a four-five-cell box, almost correct spherical shape up to 7 mm in diameter. Inside are angular black seeds.

The flowering period is from June to July, fruit ripening occurs in September-October.

The fragrant rue comes from the Mediterranean regions of Europe. Widespread in the Crimea, in many regions of Ukraine and China, in Japan. IN Asian countries and Europe, it was cultivated as a medicinal and aromatic plant.

Thanks to its fragrant bitter taste and peculiar spicy aroma, when used as a seasoning in food, it improves digestion and stimulates appetite. It has toxic properties, so it requires controlled use.

How to prepare rue for medicinal purposes

The herb rue is used as a medicine. It is harvested during the flowering of the plant.

To do this, cut off its tops and dry it in a shaded, well-ventilated place or a special dryer so that the air temperature does not exceed forty degrees. For storage use a closed container.

Useful properties are stored in raw materials for one year. The smell of a fresh plant is strong and rather peculiar, after drying it becomes pleasant, reminiscent of the smell of a rose.

Pharmacological composition of the plant

The main active component of the rue is the alkaloid rutin and a special essential oil. In addition to them, the ground part of the shrub contains coumarins, sesquiterpenes, special hydrocarbons, higher-order fatty acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alcohols, Vitamin P and ascorbic acid.

It is interesting to know that in ancient times, monks and people seeking to preserve innocence ate this plant in order to reduce sexual desire in men.

To protect against the plague, people rubbed their bodies with this herb, and the premises were disinfected with smoke.

Growing rue in a garden plot

Ruta garden has good decorative properties that persist throughout almost the entire season. A place for planting a shrub should be chosen taking into account its southern origin, giving preference sunny places protected from cold and wind.

The soil should be fertile, well permeable, with good drainage of excess moisture. The flower does not tolerate spring stagnant water. In one place without transplants, the plant lives for five to six years.

Grass is propagated by planting seeds in open ground or preparing seedlings, dividing an adult bush and cuttings.

To quickly reach the plant decorative properties it is recommended to grow a succession using seedlings. Sowing seeds for this must begin in March-April, using special small containers for this.

Seeds are immersed in the soil to a depth of no more than two centimeters, observing the condition of a sparse planting.

IN open ground seedlings are transferred in the first decade of May, in rows located at a distance of up to one hundred centimeters from each other in increments of up to twenty-five centimeters.

Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out both before winter - in November, and in spring - in March-April. Based on the seeding rate of four to five kilograms per hectare.

After the appearance of the first shoots, cultivation is carried out and the sprouts are thinned out in increments of at least twenty centimeters, while at the same time the rows are cleared of weeds.

Further seedling care consists of occasional watering and timely removal of weeds.

It is important to remember that odorous rue is a Mediterranean plant and can freeze in conditions middle lane. However, the question of winter shelter flower does not find unanimous approval. Many gardeners are wary of this method, as it carries the danger of aging.

Spring plant care includes pruning to the level of living wood and top dressing, then young shoots grow quickly and make up a significant leaf mass.

Garden rue is not attacked by pests and diseases. The only threat to young seedlings are weeds that can significantly weaken the plant. That is why they must be removed.

Medicinal properties

It has already been mentioned that fragrant rue belongs to poisonous plants, but this does not prevent it from being part of the eight pharmacopoeias of the world.

It is used as a raw material for the preparation of drugs used to treat diseases of the joints and neuralgia, and also as a source of rutin.

Decoctions and infusions made on its basis are detrimental to Staphylococcus aureus and inhibit the spread of fungal diseases, and fresh juice from the leaves has a good antiseptic effect.

Source: http://ogorodnikam.com/sadovye-rasteniya/ruta-dushistaya/

Malankina Elena Lvovna doctor of agricultural sciences, professor botanists of the RGAU-MSHA named after K.A. Timiryazev

Ruta has been known since ancient times. Dioscorides willingly used this plant. It was considered a remedy for plant and animal poisons.

There is evidence that rue was part of the antidote, which was taken for prevention purposes by the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator in 121-64. BC.

In ancient times it was used for various diseases. The poem Odo of Men stated:

"Very good for the stomach when drunk often,

The fruit exiles in drink and curb love in the state,

Sciatica heals, joints, as well as patients with fever ... "

In the Chapters of Charlemagne, it is mentioned under the modern Latin name rue. In the XVI-XVIII centuries, it was an indispensable plant in home and spicy gardens in Europe, as it was considered an effective remedy for ... the plague that raged in those days.

Botanical description and habitats

Fragrant rue (Ruta graveolens) is a semi-shrub from the rue family, 30-100 cm high, with a woody, fibrous root. Stem lignified at the bottom, branched, erect.

The leaves are alternate, grayish-green, slightly fleshy, double or triple pinnately dissected. The flowers are regular, greenish-yellow, on short stalks, collected in a corymbose panicle. The fruit is a rounded 4-5-cell box.

Each nest contains 4-6 almost black seeds. Blooms in June - July. The fruits ripen in September - October.

Within Russia, it is found in the wild only in the Kaliningrad region as an alien plant. Grows in gardens, orchards and waste places. It is bred as a medicinal and essential oil plant.

Medicinal raw materials and active substances

For therapeutic purposes, use fresh or dried grass collected during the flowering period. Dry raw materials under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area.

The leaves and apical shoots contain essential oil (up to 0.5%), which contains nonanone, linalool, undecanone, undecanol; in addition, rutin, furocoumarins bergapten, xanthotoxin, pangelin, psoralen, daphnoretin) (up to 1%), resins, alkaloids of various chemical structures (rutamine, graveolin, dictamnin), malic acid.

Application in official and traditional medicine

In our country, rue is not used by scientific medicine, but in a number of European countries it is included in the Pharmacopoeia.

However, the root poisonous plant and requires careful use and strict adherence to the dosage. In addition, the contained furocoumarins exhibit a phototoxic effect.

Rue herb has, according to traditional medicine, a significant range of pharmacological activity. It is known as a tonic, antispastic, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, hemostatic and antitoxic agent.

It is used for neurosis, atherosclerosis, menopause. Ruta is effective in the treatment of asthenic conditions, hysteria, epilepsy, headache.

Rue herb is used for rheumatism, gout, impotence, myopia, fragility of blood vessels, scrofula, rickets, as well as spastic pains in the stomach and intestines.

Ruta fragrant has a general tonic effect, relieves fatigue, and calms the nervous system.

Preparations from this plant reduce spasms of smooth muscles of the urinary tract and peripheral blood vessels, reduce arterial pressure increase diuresis. Herbal tea is considered a good remedy from impotence.

Leaf infusion is used for blood stasis internal organs as a sedative for nervous irritability. According to some reports, with impotence, taking an infusion of rue herb in grape wine helps.

In traditional medicine, fresh rue juice is taken internally for bites from poisonous insects and snakes, as well as for poor eyesight.

Fresh leaves are applied to the site of bruises and bruises.

Use at home

leaf infusion prepared from 1 teaspoon of crushed raw materials, which is poured with 1 glass of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours, filtered. Take 50 ml 3 times a day.

To prepare cold infusion of herbs, you should pour 1 teaspoon of crushed raw materials with 2 cups of cold boiled water, leave for 8 hours, strain. Take 1/2 cup 4 times a day before meals.

The tincture is the most convenient to use and, using it, it is easier to follow the exact dosage. Prepare it on vodka in a ratio of 1:5. Insist 10 days in a dark place, strain. Take 10 drops in 1 tablespoon of water 3 times a day.

Rue preparations are contraindicated in pregnancy, hypotension, hyperacid gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.

In case of an overdose, irritation of the mucosa of the digestive tract, swelling of the tongue and larynx, fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, general weakness, damage to the kidneys and liver may occur.

External use of rue sometimes causes skin burns.

And in order not to make a mistake with the dose and not to forget about contraindications, you can take homeopathic preparations of rue, which are prescribed for bruises, sprains, spasms, rheumatism, and excessive tension.

Other application

Young leaves are edible.

They are used as a flavoring spice for tea, soft drinks, sausages, sauces, canned cucumbers and tomatoes, lamb and cheese dishes. The essential oil of rue is used in the alcoholic beverage industry in the production of cognac and liqueurs.

Growing on the site

The plant is very decorative almost the entire season. Given its southern origin (Mediterranean), the plant should be placed in a sunny area, protected from cold winds. The soil is preferably fertile, permeable. Ruta does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the spring.

The plant reproduces by seeds. It is better to sow them in March in a pot and grow seedlings. In the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the plants dive. It is better to plant immediately in separate pots, then when planted in a permanent place, the plants quickly start to grow and take on a decorative look.

Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm in early June. Care consists in weeding, loosening and top dressing with complex fertilizers or diluted mullein or bird droppings.

It is possible to sow seeds directly into the ground early in spring, but in this case the consumption of seeds increases greatly, and the plants will be truly ornamental only by the next season.

Sheltering plants for the winter does not always give good results. Often they start to rot. Therefore, to cover or not to cover is a rather controversial issue. In spring, plants are cut to living wood, fed.

In this case, they grow quite quickly and form a large leaf mass. In one place in the conditions of the non-chernozem zone, plants grow for 3-5, and sometimes more years.

But gradually they still begin to fall out, so you need to take care of the replacement.

The plant is so decorative that it will adorn any plant composition: a mixborder, a rocky garden and just a flower bed in front of the house.

Rita Brilliantova, Maxim Minin

Source: https://www.greeninfo.ru/grassy/ruta_graveolens.html/Article/_/aID/5810

Good afternoon dear friends! “In food without spices, there is neither benefit nor joy” - an ancient saying sounds.

And not in vain, because aromatic plants contribute to the absorption of food, stimulate the cleansing, metabolic and protective functions of the body, have healing and bactericidal properties. Therefore, the more varied the assortment of herbs in our menu, the healthier we will be.

Not a single housewife, probably, can do without dill in the kitchen today. But today, few people grow such a plant, known even in folklore, as fragrant rue. This article is about her.

In ancient times, the leaves and seeds of rue served medicine, helping, as it was believed, with various diseases, poisonings and against “evil spirits”. It is no coincidence that the very name “ruta” comes from Greek word, meaning "save", "help".

The fragrant rue comes from the Mediterranean. In nature, it occurs within the Crimea. It is distributed from southern Europe to the Canary Islands. It is widely cultivated as a spicy, medicinal, volatile and ornamental plant in Iran, India, Libya, Algeria, and the USA.

It is grown on small areas in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.

Morphological features

Fragrant rue belongs to the rue family. It is a perennial evergreen shrub. Its stem is erect, woody at the base, 50-70 cm high. The leaves are bluish-green, petiolate, double or triple pinnate, elongated.

Rue flowers are small, yellow, collected in the apical corymbose inflorescence. They bloom from June to September from the second year of life.

Seeds are black-brown, small, 1-1.5 mm long. Ripen in brown boxes in August-September. The mass of a thousand seeds is 1.5-2.0 g.

Remain viable for more than five years.

Features of use

Young leaves are used for food with a strong pleasant aroma and a piquant, slightly bitter taste (as a spice for fish, salad platter, lamb, cheeses, vinegar, tea in small quantities).

The plant is added when canning tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, other vegetable and fruit cocktails. Black bread sandwiches with cheese are especially in harmony with rue.

0.1-0.15 g of green rue is placed per serving.

Rue leaves contain vitamin C, rutin. The latter has an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthens blood capillaries.

Herbs are used for medicinal purposes the most important property which is the ability to relieve spasm of smooth muscles of the digestive tract, biliary and urinary tract, as well as peripheral blood vessels.

As a result, blood pressure decreases, asthma attacks are relieved, the digestive tract improves, blood vessels and veins strengthen.

As an external remedy, fragrant rue is effective for skin rashes, rheumatism and gout. In the USA, Italy, rue herb is used for eye diseases. In India, it is used as a stimulant, antiseptic and abortifacient.

In China, it is used for headaches associated with vasospasm, pneumonia, amenorrhea, epilepsy in children. In Austria, rue is used for rheumatism, palpitations, neurosis, and gout. It is considered a good remedy for impotence. IN traditional medicine fresh juice of the plant heals wounds.

But for all the usefulness of the plant, one should not forget about caution and remember that with excessive use of rue, like other medicinal plants, there may be poisoning.

In very rare cases, in some people, the fresh juice of the plant can cause redness of the skin, which manifests itself within a day after contact with the plant.

As an ornamental openwork plant, fragrant rue is recommended for spicy vegetable beds, borders, mixborders, in group plantings on dry slopes of rockeries. It has the greatest decorative effect during the flowering period - it creates yellow spots in the middle of lush greenery.

Agrotechnics of cultivation

Ruta fragrant - light-loving and drought tolerant plant, not demanding on soils. In one place grows 5-6 years. The plant is propagated directly by sowing seeds into the ground or by growing seedlings, as well as dividing the bush and cuttings.

Seeds are closed when planting sparsely, to a depth of about 2 cm.

Plants are planted in the ground in early May with a distance between rows when planting 70-100 cm, between plants - 20-25 cm.

When sown in open ground, seeds are sown before winter, in October-November, or in late March-early April. The seeding rate is 4-5 kg/ha.

After germination, cultivation and thinning by 20-25 cm are carried out with simultaneous removal of weeds in the rows.

Planting care consists of keeping the soil free of weeds and occasional watering.

Fragrant rue blooms from the second year after sowing. For use as a spice, the ground mass is cut before flowering and dried under a canopy.

To obtain essential oil, it is removed at the beginning or during the period of mass flowering and immediately sent for processing. essential oil is 0.2-0.3% of the wet weight.

And in conclusion, Sofia Rotaru gives you her song

See you soon!

With all respect, Andrew!

Source: http://dachka-ogorodik.ru/pryane-rasteniya/dushistaya-ruta.html

rue family

Origin of culture
Comes from the countries of the Mediterranean coast.

It grows wild in the Mediterranean region, as well as on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in the Crimea, in China and Japan.

Cultivated for centuries different countries Europe and Asia as an aromatic, medicinal and antiseptic plant.

Beneficial features
All parts of the plant (stem, flowers, leaves) contain essential oil, alkaloids, vitamins C and P, carotene.

Dried rue flowers have a scent reminiscent of roses. Rue leaves have strong phytoncidal properties, a pungent odor and a bitter taste.

Ruta is an insecticide for flies, mosquitoes, lice. Yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.

The raw material of rue is included in folk and scientific medicine in many countries of the world. Various parts of the plant have anti-inflammatory, wound healing, analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antitrichomonal and tonic effects.

It is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bronchitis, pneumonia, skin rashes, neurosis, heart failure, worms and as a detoxifier for snake bites and rabid dogs.

Rue is also widely used in cooking.

Biological features
Ruta - perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub gray-green naked plant. Strongly branching stems of rue reach a height of 50 cm. The leaves are pinnately dissected, the flowers are yellow, collected in loose inflorescences.

The plant is cold-resistant and relatively frost-resistant. Winters in the open ground, but under cover. Undemanding to growing conditions, but grows best in sunny areas well protected from cold winds. The soil is required well provided with moisture, rather fertile.

Varieties
Varieties Kruzhnitsa and Impatiens are zoned.

Growing conditions
Ruta is propagated by sowing seeds in open ground, seedling way or dividing the bush and cuttings.

During seed propagation, organic fertilizers are applied to the site from autumn, seeds are sown in the spring in an ordinary way with row spacing of 60-70 cm and a distance between plants in a row of 20-25 cm.

After thinning, each plant is provided with a feeding area of ​​60×60 or 70×70 cm. Plant care consists of loosening row spacing, weeding and watering.

If you grow seedlings and root cuttings, then it is better to do this in film greenhouses, and then plant the plants in the same way in open ground. In one place, rue is grown for 6-8 years.

In early spring, it grows back and blooms for a long period, providing the site with a decorative look.
Mostly young leaves are harvested and used, they begin to be harvested from the second year of life.

For food purposes, they are plucked throughout the season, young annual plants can be used in its entirety.

The touch of green rue can cause skin irritation, so all work with rue should be done with gloves.

For medical purposes, rue grass is harvested during flowering before frost. When harvesting, the tops of flowering plants are cut off and then dried in the shade.

Note to the owner
Rue leaves are used as a seasoning for salads, stews, sandwiches, as well as for flavoring tea, vinegar, fruit and vegetable cocktails. Cranberry drinks and black bread sandwiches with cream cheese harmonize especially well with the inherent bitterness of the rue. It tastes like a cross between onion and garlic.

Alcohol tincture (medicinal)
Alcoholic tincture of rue for external use in the treatment of chronic diseases joints, articular rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, lumbago and infectious neuritis are prepared on 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1:10. The same tincture is used to make lotions for damage to the periosteum, facial paralysis and bedsores.

Infusion of rue (medicinal) To prepare the infusion, pour 1 teaspoon of chopped herbs into 500 ml hot water and boil for 35 minutes on low heat.

After cooling, strain and take 1 / 3-1 / 2 cup 3 times a day after meals.

In the treatment of bruises, hemorrhages (hematomas), conjunctivitis, fresh rue juice mixed with honey is used.

Pounded leaves or an ointment prepared from the juice are prescribed for scabies and other skin diseases.

Leaves infused with sunflower oil, are recommended for frequent heartbeat, dizziness, lack of menstruation. Rue preparations are contraindicated in children and pregnant women.

Source: http://supersadovod.ru/ovoshhi/ruta-ovoshhnaya/

Growing rules and useful properties of rue

Have you heard of Rue? It is likely that yes. Currently, the plant is very popular in folk medicine, especially in Russia.

What do you know about him? About its effect on the human body? About its application? Do you want to grow it? useful plant and in your front garden? Let's try!

Ruta: description

Ruta (Ruta)- a perennial herbaceous plant or an evergreen subshrub with a rather peculiar smell.

In the wild, distributed from the Canary Islands to the Mediterranean Sea. In Russia, the cultivation of plants is carried out exclusively in the gardens and vegetable gardens of people.

It is extremely rare to find it in the wild.

It is also cultivated in America, in Western Europe in Asia and even in Africa. In general, this plant has been known for many centuries. Even the ancient Greeks used it to treat many diseases. The most common is the fragrant or odorous rue.

Useful properties of culture

The herb is known to have a high content of essential oils and alkaloids. Rue, and especially fragrant (Ruta graveolens), is widely used in both traditional and folk medicine.

Also read: Hyacinths: planting and care in the open field

The plant is effective for:

• stomach cramps;
• cholelithiasis;
• atherosclerosis;
• beriberi;
• impotence;
• allergies;
• worms;
• increased heart rate;
• flatulence;
• stomach colic;
• cough and runny nose;
• neurosis and hysteria;
• paralysis and osteochondrosis;
• scabies;
• rickets or rheumatism.

In addition, the root has the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• restorative;
• soothing (for bruises, bites, wounds, abscesses);
• refreshing (used to rinse the mouth);
• antiseptic.

However, despite the wide pharmacological use, it should be remembered that rue is poisonous in large doses! Therefore, it should be used very carefully and at the slightest symptoms of an overdose (gastrointestinal upset, swollen tongue, bradycardia when used orally or burns when used externally), you should consult a doctor.

You can also learn about the beneficial properties of chokeberry.

How to properly plant rue

It is not so difficult to cultivate rue on your own. Growing and caring will not take much effort. This plant loves light and is calm about drought. Any soil is also suitable for it, but carbonate, loamy, calcareous or crushed stone is still preferable.

Landing can be done in two ways:

• immediately in open ground;
• grow seedlings, and then transplant into the ground.

If you are planting a crop outdoors, remember:

• it is desirable to plant in early spring, although it is possible before winter;
• planted seeds must be thinned twice with an interval of a month.

With this method, seedlings will appear in about two weeks.

If you first decided to grow seedlings, then remember that seedlings should be transplanted into open ground in the second half of May.

Ruta fragrant: general information (video)

How to care for a plant

Fortunately, caring for rue does not require any special efforts. It consists in the following:

• remove weeds in a timely manner;
• loosen the soil in time;
• can be used complex fertilizer for top dressing 1-2 times a season;
• it is necessary to water not very often, let the earth dry out;
• in the spring the plant needs to be cut.

Also read: Growing Chinese belamkanda in the garden

Reproduction features

In addition to seedlings and planting seeds, the plant also propagates by cuttings or division.

When cutting, you must remember that:

• first you need to place the cutting in a container of water;
• as soon as the cutting gives roots, it can be planted in a pot with earth or directly into the ground. But it is best to do this in August-September.

The use of rue

Most often, the leaves are used for medicinal purposes. They can be used in the following ways:

• brew like tea
• make an infusion;
• make an ointment;
• use as part of a collection;
• use twigs to repel insects (including mosquitoes);
• drink juice inside (especially with snake bites);
• fresh leaves can be applied to the site of injury.

Some people eat rue leaves as a spice, they are also added when canning cucumbers and tomatoes.

What else you need to know about the plant

If you are going to use rue for medicinal purposes, be sure to note that this herb should not be used for:

• pregnancy;
• gastritis;
• ulcer;
• hypotension.

In addition, a few words about how to properly collect and harvest plant materials:

• you need to collect grass during flowering;
• shoots must be carefully cut with scissors, and not torn off or broken off;
• do not forget about rubber gloves, as rue juice can burn the skin and even cause allergies;
• dry the plant in a well-ventilated area, not in the sun;
• dried raw materials are stored for up to 1 year.

Undoubtedly, another advantage of rue is its decorative value. This plant will delight you with its bright sunlight and will look great in a complex composition of flower plants and shrubs, and in rockeries, as it goes well with stones.

Ruta - healing spice (video)

Rue is a very valuable plant worthy of you growing it in your garden. The benefits of culture are undeniable: it will help with diseases of the body and delight the eye on a warm sunny day. However, do not forget that it is still poisonous.

Also read: When and how to plant dahlias: the secrets of experienced flower growers

Gallery: rue (25 photos)

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In this article, you will learn what rue is, where it grows and how it is used. This plant has been known since ancient times. It was considered the strongest remedy against plant and animal poisons. It is known that rue was part of a strong antidote, which King Mithridates VI took for prevention, fearing an attempt on his life. The ancients used it to treat certain diseases.

What is rue?

This plant is well known to many gardeners. In the people it has several names. If you are asked: “What is fragrant rue?”, You can answer that this is ordinary rue, sometimes it is also called odorous.

This is a semi-shrub from the rue family. Its height can be from 30 to 100 cm. The plant has a fibrous woody root. In the lower part, the stem is woody, erect, branched. The leaves are grayish-green, fleshy, dissected, alternate. The flowers are greenish-yellow, having a short pedicel, collected in a panicle. The fruit is a rounded 5-cell box. Each nest contains 4-6 seeds. Blooms from early June to late July. The fruits ripen in September.

Official and traditional medicine

In our country, this plant is not used in official medicine, although in some European countries it is included in pharmacopoeias.

We want to warn everyone who is interested in what rue is, that this is a poisonous plant that requires careful use and strict adherence to the dosage. Moreover, the furocoumarins contained in its composition have a phototoxic effect.

Medicinal properties

The herb rue has many medicinal properties. It is known as an antispastic, tonic, antiseptic, hemostatic, anticonvulsant and antitoxic agent.

The use of rue

This herb is used for atherosclerosis, neurosis varying degrees gravity. Ruta, according to doctors, is effective in the treatment of hysteria, epilepsy, asthenic condition, headache.

Traditional healers use this herb to treat rheumatism and gout, fragility of blood vessels, with spastic painful sensations and intestines.

Ruta fragrant is known for its tonic effect, it relieves fatigue, calms the nervous system well. Infusions and decoctions from this plant reduce spasms of smooth muscles of the ureters and peripheral blood vessels, gently lower blood pressure, and have a weak diuretic (diuretic) effect.

Rue tea is a tried and tested remedy for impotence. An infusion of the leaves is taken as a sedative for nervous irritability.

In traditional medicine of European countries, rue juice is used for the bites of poisonous insects and snakes.

Fresh leaves can be applied to bruises and bruises.

Preparation of infusions

You already know what rue is, and now it's time to learn how to prepare healing infusions based on it.

It is necessary to take a teaspoon of well-chopped grass, pour a glass of boiling water. The herb should be infused for two hours. Then the composition can be filtered. Take 50 ml before or during meals three times a day.

You can apply a cold infusion of rue. It takes longer to prepare. Pour a teaspoon of grass with a liter of boiled chilled water. This composition must be insisted for eight hours. Take half a glass of the drug before meals, four times a day.

Vodka tincture is convenient to use, and in this case it is easier to follow the dosage. Prepare it in a ratio of 1:5 (rue:vodka). Grass must be infused for ten days in a dark place. Take tincture of 10 drops per 1 tbsp. a spoonful of water 3 times a day.

Contraindications

Like other medicinal plants, rue has contraindications. It should not be taken by women who are expecting a child. People who suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure) are not recommended to use this herb, and it is also not taken for hyperacid gastritis, stomach ulcers.

Side effects

In case of overdose, irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, swelling of the larynx and tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, convulsions, damage to the liver and kidneys occur.

Where else is root used?

Many housewives know what rue is (you can see the photo in our article). In cooking, young leaves are used as a fragrant spice for flavoring soft drinks, tea, in the preparation of sausages, sauces. This plant is also used in the preservation of cucumbers and tomatoes, it is added to cheese and lamb dishes. Essential oils of rue have found application in the alcoholic beverage industry. They are used in the manufacture of liqueurs and cognac.

"Chervona Ruta"

Hearing these words, many immediately recall the words of the famous Soviet pop song. What is "chervona ruta" and does such a plant exist in nature? Today, many people call the double monard, which comes from North America, and has been cultivated in Europe since 1656.

And in the Carpathians, another plant is called red rue - East Carpathian rhododendron (myrtle). Today, gardeners grow both of these plants on their plots.

Rue cultivation

Many summer residents grow these bushes not only because of the medicinal properties of the plant. They are attracted by its spectacular appearance, which persists throughout the season.

Rue should be planted in a sunny, wind-sheltered area. This plant loves fertile permeable soil. It does not tolerate stagnant moisture, especially in spring.

Ruta is propagated by seeds, which are best sown in March in a pot for growing seedlings. When 3-4 true leaves appear on the bush, the plant must dive. It is better to sow the root in small plastic cups, then when planted in the ground, it begins to grow rapidly and acquire a decorative look.

In spring, rue seeds can be sown in the ground, but then ornamental plants only for next season.

Ruta looks very nice on the site, it will decorate any plant composition - a rocky garden, a mixborder and an ordinary flower bed in front of the house.

He picked leaves, brewed a potion, drank it three times and forgot everything, remembered only a single word - "rue". Hannochka, even dead, wished her beloved happiness. Since then, people have called this plant rue.

Another legend tells that a long time ago a girl lived in the world and she had a boyfriend whom she loved very much. But on the eve of the wedding, he said that he fell in love with another and that he would marry her. In desperation, the girl ran away from the village, wherever her eyes look. She ran to a steep rock and began to climb the slope. Stones falling from under her feet woke the owner of the rock, who was dozing in his cave. He got out of it to see who disturbed his peace. And then he saw the girl. Her beauty so impressed the giant that he burned with love for her and rushed after her. Seeing him, the girl was frightened, screamed, raised her hands to the sky and began to pray for salvation. The gods took pity and turned her into a yellow flower growing on a slope bathed in the sun. And the giant, out of grief, turned to stone on this rock and remained sitting near the yellow flower, which since then has helped all brides not to lose their groom.

And another beautiful and sad legend, where rue is a symbol of self-sacrifice for the well-being of others. Brother and sister lived in the Carpathians. Alenka liked to weave wreaths, and Ivanko collected flowers for her, especially her favorite mint rue. They lived well, but once the father, returning from hunting, got into such a thick fog that he wandered into the rocks and crashed. They were left alone.

Ivan worked as a laborer for a rich pan, and Alenka was taken in by a grandmother who lived next door. It was hard for that woman. Alenka got up at dawn, and went to bed under the stars. It used to be that the woman wouldn’t even give me food, and beat me. Rarely now did she manage to see her beloved brother, and even then secretly, so that the wicked woman would not swear. Bitter orphan share.

Once Alenka saw that the old woman opened the chest, took out an unusual pipe, all carved with curiosity, and left the hut. The girl became curious and she, stealthily, went after her. An old woman came up the mountain and lit a pipe. Thick smoke came out of it and began to spread along the gorges in long jets - fingers. Alenka forgot to breathe from fear. And then that fog, as if seeing the girl, began to reach out to her. Terrified, Alenka flew like an arrow from that place.

She realized that her father's death was not accidental. Baba is a real witch. With an enchanted fog, she led people into the gorges, where they died. And Alenka swore to take revenge on the witch, so that she could no longer harm people. I decided that the evil power of the sorceress was in an outlandish pipe. Alenka waited until the old woman went into the field, opened the chest in an instant, took out the pipe and nearly let go of her hands out of fright: something alien and incomprehensible broke into her body. But she was determined to destroy the pipe and, gathering her strength, threw it into the furnace. However, it did not burn, not even charred. The frightened girl scooped it out of the fire and wanted to put it back in the chest, but then the grandmother ran into the hut. In her eyes Alenka saw not only anger, but despair and fear.

With fury she attacked Alenka: “How dare you take what is not yours. Well, you know! How do you look at White light or you say even one word, then your dear brother will immediately fall dead.” At the same moment, Alyonka closed her eyes tightly in horror and no longer saw, but heard something hit the floor. This evil sorceress put all her strength into the curse and fell dead.

Alenka, on the same day that the sorceress died, ran away into such a wilderness where not every beast wandered. The pipe helped her get used to the hermit life, as the mists became her eyes, and she could see everything where they covered the earth. More than once Alenka saw how her brother was looking for her in the forests, how every year, when rue-mint bloomed, he brought it to where, once they played together as children, and Alenka wove a wreath. But she firmly remembered the curse of the evil witch and took care of her beloved brother - she was silent and never opened her eyes.

Ivanko matured over the years, became a good owner. And about Alenka, everyone thought that she died in the forests. And they also noticed that from the time she disappeared, evil mists stopped descending on the mountains, cattle disappeared and people fornicated. Only a light haze enveloped the mountains and it smelled of rue-mint, but no one knew what caused it. Who will say where Alenka is now? But if you are in those parts, you will fall into the morning fog, stop for a moment, inhale the smell of rue-mint and remember your sister that she loved her brother more than herself.

In Podolia (southwestern Ukraine) recorded old legend about the rue as a symbol of the motherland. A long time ago, the Basurmans attacked the village, captured the men in the galleys. One of them had a girlfriend. She shed many tears. She knew that they did not return from the galleys, because from hard labor the slaves forgot their native land, all their loved ones. They weren't even shackled - they wouldn't run away anyway. But the girl could not forget her beloved. When the cranes gathered to fly to distant lands, she asked them to find the galley in the sea where her beloved was and give him a sprig of rue. When the young man saw the flower, breathed in its fragrance, a miracle happened. He remembered both his homeland and his beloved. He agreed with his comrades, they attacked the guards, seized the ship and flew to their native shore as if on wings. And on the mast a sprig of saving rue fluttered.

Many folk beliefs and customs are associated with rue. She was often worn in a special bag on her chest as a talisman. They believed that it protects from evil forces, averts the evil eye, saves from witchcraft and black magic. They rubbed the floorboards with rue so that evil spells would return to the one who sent them, hung them on the door, along with other herbs added to the water in which babies were bathed. In general, it was believed that she protects all the children living in the house. Here is one of the conspiracies when collecting it: “Oh, you, ruta, I bow to you, I will pick you, I will bring you to the house. And you, ruta-mother, do not let my children offend: neither the noble, nor the beggar, nor the native, nor the stranger. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen".

By folk beliefs, it grows best when stolen, toads are afraid of it, snakes do not crawl near places where rue grows. By folk tradition they collect it in late autumn, when the first frost hits, always early in the morning, since in the afternoon the “grace-grass” turns into “grass of sorrow”, they store it under the eaves on the roof.

It was also popular as a love potion. As soon as a woman prepared and drunk such a potion, she became the most desirable for her chosen one. A wreath of rue and mint was worn by girls who wanted to win the heart of a guy indifferent to them, she helped get rid of the heartache that unsuccessful love brings.

There was an old belief that the aroma of rue drives innocent young people crazy to such an extent that even ancient old women seem beautiful to them. Witches used this, they lured pure young men to where rue blooms profusely, and deprived them of their virginity.

According to ancient legends, once every twenty years, on the night of Ivan Kupala, instead of the usual yellow, the rue blooms red for several minutes. If a girl finds and picks (or gives her) this flower herself when it turns red, then she will be happy in love all her life. According to legend, a lover should find and give a flower of rue to a loved one. Then, supposedly, love will be mutual.

Ruta has long been used to treat various diseases. She was most valued for the fact that she improved eyesight and served as an effective antidote. A decoction of rue was also used in the countryside against seizures and convulsions. During the epidemics of the XVI-XVII centuries. it was believed that scattered on the floor, rue leaves were able to ward off the infection. It was also considered the best disinfectant. People rubbed the body with rue to protect themselves from the plague, fumigated the premises with its smoke, sprinkled clothes and bedding to get rid of fleas and lice. Ruta was grown in the popular pharmacy gardens in the Middle Ages, especially in monasteries, due to its ability to relieve sexual arousal in men. The famous German physician Bokk (XVI century) wrote: "... All monks and religious people who want to preserve innocence and purity should constantly use rue in food and drinks."

And now it is used in folk medicine, the image of "rue-mint" is one of the popular motifs in modern folklore (especially in Western Ukraine), poetry and songs.

It is difficult to imagine that someone does not know about such a plant as rue.

Its history goes back several thousand years, and all this time it has been widely used in folk medicine and in everyday life.

Now this flower is actively used in cooking, pharmaceuticals, and some antidotes are also prepared from it. Ruta occupies an honorable place in modern folk medicine.

However, we have already begun to forget that this plant is a magnificent guest in your flower bed. perennial grass rue will grow and smell wonderful in your area if you show a little care and attention when planting and caring for the flower. And how best to do it - read below.

Did you know? According to folk legend, on the night of Ivan Kupala, the rue flower turns red and the one who has time to pick it will find well-deserved happiness.

Ruta fragrant: description of the plant

Let's figure out what this rue. This plant is a long-lived shrub, with a very peculiar smell that not everyone may like. On European territory, rue does not grow in the wild, so you can only meet it behind the gardener's fence.

The height of the bush is approximately 55–70 cm with a lignified trunk and the lower parts of the branches. Every year, non-woody shoots die out, and in severe winters, the whole top part rue (with the advent of spring, it is completely restored from the root). The color of the lignified parts of the plant is rich yellow, and the leaves and the rest are green with a light gray tint.

In summer, neat bright yellow flowers appear, and if you look closely, you will see pale dots in the light - microreservoirs with essential oil. In our latitudes, the rue flower lives a lot, and, most often, feels great up to twenty years.

Did you know? After drying, the rue leaves have a different, more pleasant aroma and no longer cause burns on the hands.

Choosing a place for rue in the garden

Ruta fragrant is an unpretentious plant in terms of planting and care. The soil is not particularly important for him, so you can safely plant the rue almost anywhere in your front garden. However, one of important points when planting an odorous shrub - the absence of drafts (protection against them can be both natural and artificial). Due to its decorative, lacy leaf shape, rue is often planted to decorate borders.

Soil requirements for planting

Garden rue is a big fan of calcareous, loamy and crushed stone soils, in which it feels best. The plant is quite resistant to drought and does not tolerate strong waterlogging of the soil. Before spring planting, even in autumn, it is necessary to dig the site deeply and it is advisable to apply fertilizer in the form of humus. In the spring, the earth can be loosened and dug to a shallow depth. The shrub is not whimsical to soil conditions and can live in one place for 5-6 years, while maintaining excellent flowering.

Important! When dried, the plant can be stored for no more than one year.

What should be the lighting for the rue, where to plant the plant

The lighting for the rue, in the place where you are going to grow it, should be sufficient for normal development, however, during the hottest time of the day, it is advisable to shade the bush for a couple of hours.

However, if the rue is given permanent partial shade or a little more shade, the leaves of the plant will begin to curl and turn yellow. So boldly, you can plant a flower anywhere where direct sunlight falls.

How to plant rue: scheme and planting dates

plant garden grass with fragrant flowers in several ways: seed, by cuttings or dividing the bush.

According to the rules, the plant must first be grown for seedlings in pots, and only then planted in open ground.

Of course, seeds can be sown directly into the soil, but this will increase the consumption of seed material, and you can achieve decorativeness from the plant only on next year. When planting, it is also important to leave room for the growth of the rue, although if you follow the 60x60 cm scheme, this is not difficult to do.

If you decide to grow seedlings, then the seeds must be planted at the beginning of winter. They are sown in open ground with the arrival of spring, and picking seedlings or cuttings should be done in the first days of summer.

Reproduction of rue by seed

The most convenient and popular way to propagate rue is considered to be its cultivation from seeds, therefore, in order to learn more about rue and understand in detail what kind of plant it is, we recommend starting to get acquainted with it from seed propagation. If the flower is already growing on your site, and you have collected its seeds, or your friends have shared with you, they can be planted for seedlings at the beginning of winter, because they will take root only after a few months.

For the growth of seedlings, prepare a substrate of leafy soil and humus with a small addition of sand. The depth of sowing seeds should not exceed two centimeters. The soil should always be kept slightly moist, whether you are growing seedlings in a greenhouse or on a windowsill (the first shoots will appear in a few weeks).

It is better to plant the root immediately in separate containers, but the plant can tolerate several picks without problems.

Rue seedlings are transplanted to the site as soon as all threats of frost have passed: usually, this time falls at the end of May-beginning of June.

Important! Rue essential oil also has healing properties. But be very careful when using it, as a large number of substances can harm your skin.

Rue cuttings

If you decide not to sow fragrant rue, then there is another easy way her breeding - cuttings. First you need to prepare the cuttings, which are removed in early spring from last year's growths. After cutting, they are placed in a container with water for further rooting.

Rue branches take root in water for about one month, and the container must always be in a warm place. Then, the cuttings are planted in open ground or substrate for further root growth.

If you planted the cutting in a pot, then after 40 - 50 days it will be ready for picking on the site. But if a branch is planted immediately in open ground, it is necessary to cover it with a film and create a light penumbra. In this case, rooting occurs after 50 - 60 days.

How to propagate rue by dividing a bush

By dividing the bush, rue is propagated in spring or in the last month of summer. To do this, you need to dig a bush (preferably with a pitchfork), inspect it for negative growths (if any, carefully cut them off with a sharp knife), and then also carefully cut the rhizome. The divided bush should be immediately planted in prepared pits, after fertilizing them with compost. You need to immerse the root to the same depth at which it was before.

Growing rue, features of flower care

Ruta does not need close attention. Just give her enough sunlight and do not overmoisten the soil - that's all the basic needs of the southern flower. A plant needs a transplant very rarely (sometimes it happens once every ten years), but protection from drafts should be constant.
The plant is rarely attacked by diseases and pests, and its main enemy is weeds. Do not forget to weed the fragrant rue in time and loosen the earth in the area where it grows. It is also worth considering the fact that although the plant is accustomed to our winters, it is best to cover it during the cold season.

Important! Do not touch the flower with bare hands. This will cause blistering and itching, while oversaturation with juice or oil can lead to a slow pulse, fever, and even loss of consciousness.

How to water rue

Ruta - enough drought resistant flower, therefore, it needs watering only on especially hot days. Any waterlogging of the soil can lead to diseases and partial death of the plant. Also, spraying the flower will be an extra event.

Syn.: odorous rue.

Perennial strongly aromatic herb. It has been cultivated in Europe since ancient times as a spicy and medicinal plant. It has antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, diuretic, hemostatic properties.

The plant is poisonous!

Ask the experts

flower formula

Fragrant rue flower formula: *Ch5L5T10P4-5.

In medicine

Rue is one of the most popular medicinal plants, widely used in medicine in Europe. For medicinal purposes, mainly fresh or dried herbs are used. Rue preparations are widely used in gynecological practice, they are prescribed for algomenorrhoea, hypomenstrual syndrome, neurasthenia in menopause, and also for the regulation of weak menstruation in adolescence as an estrogenic agent. Due to the analgesic effect, rue was part of the drug "Akofin" (Radikulin). In small doses, rue enhances intestinal motility, improves the outflow of bile from the gallbladder. Rutin contained in the grass belongs to the P vitamins, which strengthens the capillaries, is available in the form of tablets mixed with ascorbic acid. Ruta fragrant is used for overwork, nervous excitability, primarily for autonomic neurosis as a sedative. In addition, rue is used as an antispasmodic in the treatment of insomnia and headaches. According to some sources, the use of rue oil in aromatherapy for pain in the head and ears, dislocations and rheumatism.

Contraindications for use

Rue is included in the pharmacopoeias of many countries, but requires a very careful attitude to use. Since the plant is poisonous, its overdose causes irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, swelling of the tongue and larynx, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, disruption of the liver and kidneys. Rue preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy, uterine bleeding, hypotension, hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, colitis, hyperacidity and during menstruation.

Classification

Fragrant rue (lat. Ruta graveolens) is a species of the genus rue (lat. Ruta) of the subfamily proper rue (lat. Rutoideae), family (lat. Rutaceae). The genus includes 7 species, among which there are herbs or shrubs. The homeland of rue is the European and African coast of the Mediterranean, it is found mainly in the eastern hemisphere from the Canary Islands to Southwest Asia.

Botanical description

Perennial herbaceous plant with a strong odor. The stem is erect (10-30 cm in height). The flower-bearing shoot is leafless. The leaves are simple, alternate, without stipules, ovate-triangular in outline, twice-, thrice-pinnately dissected, with oblong-obovate obtuse lobes. Usually leaves with translucent dots - glands with essential oils. The flowers are bisexual, regular, yellow, collected in apical loose corymbose inflorescence. Perianth double. Petals 4 in number, form a small helmet at the top, narrowed into a nail at the base, sepals rather dense. The fruit is a spherical four-cell box. Rue blooms in June - July. The fruits ripen in September.

Rue flowers are protoandric, pollinated by insects (usually small flower flies). Original fixtures to cross pollination in rue is the ability of the stamens and the style to make certain movements during flowering, as a result of which they take a different position in relation to the style with the stigma. During flowering, the rue flowers are wide open and at the beginning of the stamens lie on strongly concave hood-shaped petals and sepals. Then they alternately rise one after another and in a vertical position the anthers open, after the pollen spills out, the first stamen deviates downward and occupies its previous position. Then all the rest, one after another, make such movements. Due to the movement of the stamens, self-pollination is prevented by the time the stigma matures, but at the end of flowering, on the contrary, it is ensured. Rue flower formula: *Ch5L5T10P4-5.

Spreading

In Russia, fragrant rue is widespread in the Crimea. As an alien plant, it is found in the Kaliningrad region. It grows on dry, usually stony and gravel slopes and rocks. In the southern regions of European Russia, it is cultivated as an ornamental, medicinal and ethereal plant.

Distribution regions on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

For medicinal purposes, fresh or dried herbs are used. Harvesting of raw materials is carried out during flowering. Grass is collected - leafy twigs with buds and 1-2 blooming flowers, usually with rubber gloves, since the juice can cause burns (in the form of watery blisters) and swelling. Twigs no longer than 20 cm are cut with secateurs. Dry raw materials in a shady place in bunches. The finished raw material of the rue is green in color, it is stored in a well-closed glass or metal container in a dry, dark place, since the rue fades and loses activity in the light. Shelf life of raw materials is 2 years.

Chemical composition

The leaves of fragrant rue contain alkaloids - 0.2%, essential oil - 1.2%, flavocolrutin, furonumarin, furocoumarins, xantoxin, rutin, coumarin - 0.1%, umbelliferone, bergapten, flavonoids - rutin, quercetin more than 2%, as well as organic acids (malic, valeric), vitamin C, bitterness and resinous substances.

Pharmacological properties

The drugs have anticonvulsant, diuretic, hemostatic, estrogenic properties, and also increase uterine contraction, stimulate appetite. The substances contained in the rue (coumarins, flavonoids - rutin and quercetin) have a vasoconstrictive and antispasmodic effect. In addition, coumarin - umbelliferone together with bergapten increases skin sensitivity to UV rays.

Application in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, fragrant rue is widely used in the form of teas, collections, infusions and tinctures, both internally and externally. An infusion of rue herb is used as a disinfectant for washing the eyes with conjunctivitis. With inflammation of the eyelids and skin rashes, a decoction of herbs is used for compresses and lotions. A decoction of rue is also used for frostbite, rosacea, fungal skin diseases and abscesses. Ruta fragrant in folk medicine is used for neuroses, as a tonic, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, as well as an antihelminthic and a remedy that reduces rheumatic, neuralgic pain and migraine headaches. Ruta has a good effect on frequent urination, impotence, fragility of blood vessels, rickets and myopia. Rue tincture is used in varicose veins and in the treatment of many other diseases. In Indian traditional medicine, rue is used as a stimulant, antiseptic and abortifacient. Ruta is part of the fees for the treatment of diseases of the liver, heart, colds and coughs.

History reference

Ruta was known to the ancient Greeks, who used it as a spicy plant. The Greek philosopher Socrates, inviting one of his friends, treated him to cheese with rue. According to Pliny (I century BC), rue was first used as a medicine by King Mithridates Eupator, the ruler of the Pontic kingdom (near Kerch). Given this fact, the rue appeared in the Crimea more than 2 thousand years ago, where it grows to this day in a wild form. Rue was considered a universal antidote. In the Middle Ages, it was a favorite plant in the monastery gardens, it was used as a means of removing sexual arousal from the monks. However, the rue was valued mainly as an antidote, it was also used to combat the "pestilence" - contagious diseases. Ruta gave its name to a valuable medicinal substance - routine, isolated from it back in 1842.

Literature

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2. Blinova K. F. et al. Botanical-pharmacognostic dictionary. Ed. K. F. Blinova, G. P. Yakovlev. M.: Higher. school., 1990.S. 233.

3. Elenevsky A.G., M.P. Solovyova, V.N. Tikhomirov // Botany. Systematics of higher or land plants. M. 2004. 420 p.

4. Plant life (under the editorship of A.L. Takhtadzhyan) 1982. V. 5 (2). pp. 159-162.

5. Zamyatina N.G. medicinal plants. M. 1998. 496 p.

6. Kovaleva N. G. Fragrant rue // Treatment with plants. Essays on phytotherapy. M.: Medicine, 1972. - S. 214.

7. medicinal properties agricultural plants / Ed. M. I. Borisov.

8. Minsk: Uradzhay, 1974.S. 105. 336 p.

9. Peshkova G.I., Shreter A.I. Plants in home cosmetics and dermatology. Directory. SME. 2001. 684 p.