For example, the Romans cultivated it and carried it with them when visiting prisoners, believing it could cure the evil eye. Meanwhile, the Chinese used it to counteract negative thoughts.
Witches used it to protect themselves from spells and to heal the sick. Hebrews, Egyptians, and Chaldeans believed rue was a gift from their gods, considering it sacred.
In America, Native peoples used rue to prepare love spells. It was said that you could win someone’s heart forever by placing a sprig under the moonlight and then giving it to the person you loved.
Medicinal Properties
It tones stretch marks and protects the capillaries by strengthening their walls. It treats varicose veins, tumors, circulation problems, and helps prevent internal bleeding.
It improves digestion, preventing heaviness and heartburn. It reduces gas and indigestion by stimulating the function of the bile ducts.
Thanks to its antispasmodic properties, rue can be used to treat cramps, diarrhea, and stomach spasms.
It promotes menstruation by increasing blood flow to the uterus. For this reason, it is not recommended during pregnancy, as it may cause miscarriage.
Its calming properties help reduce stress, anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia.
It relieves pain caused by swelling and reduces inflammation from rheumatism or arthritis.
It supports weight loss, prevents fluid retention, and helps release fatty acids and body fat.
How to Plant Rue
It’s said that rue becomes much more potent if a cutting is taken from someone else’s garden and planted in the soil by the person who will use it, because its energy resides in the leaves. If you want to plant it, you need to follow these steps:
Never plant it when you are in a bad mood, feeling depressed, angry, or stressed, so you don’t transmit that energy to the plant.
If you are a woman, you should not plant it during your menstrual cycle.
If you plant rue out of pure curiosity or without believing in its properties, you won’t see results.
Give it time—without overdoing it—so it gets sunlight and you can water it properly.
Currently, there are two known types of rue. The first is considered the male, with larger leaves. The one with smaller leaves is considered female. The male plants should be placed on the left side of the garden, and the female ones on the right.