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Hildegard Herbal Encyclopaedia Back to overview

Rue

Ruta graveolens

Historical tradition – not medical advice, and no health or healing claims. more

Historical botanical drawing: Rue
Rue

Tradition (Hildegard's writings)

In Hildegard's tradition, rue was associated with digestion and external use.

Ingredients

The herb with its leaves is used (Herba Rutae), raw or powdered.

Note

Rue belongs to the rue family, which also includes burning bush (Dictamnus albus); the sources describe that plant as poisonous and protected by law. Anyone gathering rue should be sure of the identification.

Botanical background

Rue (Ruta graveolens) belongs to the rue family (Rutaceae), which also takes in all the citrus plants. Its fruit is a capsule holding black seed. In the Physica it occupies chapter CAP. 1-64, where Hildegard writes that rue grows more from the strong, full green of the earth than from warmth, yet carries mixed and largely warm powers within it and is strong in moisture; eaten raw, she holds, it has more in it than when powdered. In the recipes handed down it rarely stands alone – often it is pounded with sage and chervil into a compress, or worked with wormwood and fat into a rub. It also forms part of a mixed powder with celery seed, nutmeg, cloves and saxifrage.

Sources & references

  1. Hildegard von Bingen: Heilsame Schöpfung. Die natürliche Wirkkraft der Dinge (Physica). Hrsg. von der Abtei St. Hildegard, Eibingen. Beuroner Kunstverlag 2012 (4. Auflage 2024). CAP. 1-64.
  2. Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Naturapotheke. Heilmittel und Rezepte von A bis Z. Knaur Verlag 2014.
  3. Strehlow, Wighard: Der Hildegard-Kompass. Die wichtigsten Heilmittel und Anwendungen. Knaur Verlag 2014.

The text of this entry is an independent summary in our own words, based on the works listed – not a verbatim reproduction. The page and chapter references document where the content comes from. A superscript number on a section heading points to the work that section follows. All rights to the original works remain with their authors and publishers.

More preparations using Rue

Rue Leaves Rue Salve

Historical tradition. The above describes how this preparation was recorded and used in the tradition of Hildegard of Bingen. This is cultural-historical information, not medical advice and not a health or healing claim, and it is no substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have health complaints, please consult your doctor or pharmacy.

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