Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Ruta chalepensis L.

Family

Rutaceae

Synonym(s)

Ruta bracteosa DC.

English name(s)

Egyptian Rue
Fringed Rue
Wall Rue

Arabic Name(s)

feijan فيجن
sozab سذاب

Hebrew Name(s)

peigam matzuy

פֵּיגָם מָצוּי

Life Form

Chamaephyte

Habitat

Mediterranean maquis and forest

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Ruta chalepensis L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cardiovascular	Heart pain	Analgesic, Cardiac	Cook plant + Nigella sp. in water (Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
Child health	Abdominal pain in babies	Carminative	Crush leaves, mix + "qandi" (large crystal sugar) & let baby suck on mixture.	Leaf	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Deafness	Non-specific	Cook aerial parts in olive oil, cool, filter & apply drops into ear x3/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Ear inflammation/ tinnitus.	Anti-inflammatory, Anti-tinnitus	1. Mix aerial parts + cloves (Eugenia sp.) + olive oil, cook & apply drops into ear. 2. Grind aerial parts + "'uzab" (? identity), warm in oil & apply as drops to ear.	Aerial parts	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Earache	Analgesic	1.Cook plant in olive oil & apply drops into ear x3/day. 2. Mix aerial parts & leaves + Origanum syriacum + lightly warmed oil. (Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain	Carminative	Cook plant in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Carminative for stomach/ digestive tract inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Demulcent	Decoct plant in water & drink x3 small cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	Grind dried plant into powder & eat.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Haemorrhoids	Anti-haemorrhoidal	Decoct aerial parts & apply as poultice locally to affected area before sleeping.	Aerial parts	B
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice	Hepatic	Decoct plant in water & drink x3 small cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
General	Body pain & strengthening the body.	Analgesic, Tonic	1. Prepare infusion of plant & drink. 2. Use plant as food seasoning.	Aerial parts	Z
General	Drunkenness	Anti-intoxicant	Mix plant + thyme (Thymus sp.) + oil & use as salve.	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
General	Fluid accumulation in body: "zalal"	Anti-hydropic	Cook aerial parts in water in closed pot + Dittrichia viscosa + "rand" (Laurus sp.) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa); patient dressed in a loose gown stands over the rising steam as long as possible, then goes to bed & keeps warm.	Aerial parts	Z
Helminth infections	Expel intestinal worms	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	1. Mix leaves + mint leaves + peach leaves. (Admin. not specified.) 2. Cook aerial parts in olive oil & drink x1 cup before breakfast.	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Dissolve stones in kidneys & urinary tract	Anti-lithic	Decoct plant in water & drink x2 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic	Diuretic	Decoct plant in water & drink x2 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Pain in urinary tract/ bladder/ kidneys	Analgesic/ Demulcent	Cook plant in water, add to bath & immerse.	Aerial parts	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary obstruction	Deobstruent	Decoct aerial parts in water + corn stigmata (See NOTES 1) & drink; also stand over steam of decoction.	Aerial parts	Z
Mens Health	Scrotal oedema	Anti-hydropic	Eat fresh green leaves + stems.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Mental Health	Attacks of insanity	Anti-psychotic	Cook plant in water, add to bath & immerse.	Aerial parts	Z
Mental Health	Depression & fatigue	Anti-depressant, Tonic	1. Prepare infusion of plant & drink. 2. Use plant as food seasoning.	Aerial parts	Z
Mental Health	Fear	Anxiolytic	Cook plant in water + cumin & drink like tea.	Aerial parts	Z
Men`s Health/ Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	Decoct plant in water & drink x3 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Knee pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Cook plant in water, add to bath & immerse.	Aerial parts	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Muscle cramps, especially face	Anti-spasmodic, Muscle relaxant	Face cramps: 1. Mix plant + olive oil + Nigella sativa, boil & massage. General cramps: 2. Cook plant in olive oil & massage.	Aerial parts	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Reset/ mend a poorly healed bone fracture.	Vulnerary	Cook aerial parts in water in closed pot + Dittrichia?viscosa + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa) + branches of "el-ghar" (Laurus) + "el-butum" (Pistacia atlantica) + "saris" (Pistacia lentiscus) + "sarw" (Cupressus sp.); place affected limb in steam for few minutes. When removed bone fracture can be tapped lightly to reset correctly.	Aerial parts	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Rheumatic pain back/ legs/ arms	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1.Boil or cook aerial parts in olive oil, cool, filter through gauze & use as massage lotion. 2. Prepare steam bath of green leaves & stems + Dittrichia viscosa + Nigella sativa. 3. Decoct in oil, green leaves & stems + Dittrichia viscosa + Nigella sativa & massage with oil. 4. Mix aerial parts + thyme (Thymus sp.) + oil & use as salve.	Aerial parts, Leaf, Stem	Z
Nervous system	Headache	Analgesic	1. Grind plant + cloves (Eugenia sp.) + lavander (Lavandula sp.) + onion; steep in vinegar & spread over forehead 2. Mix plant + thyme (Thymus sp.) + oil & use as salve.	Aerial parts Leaf	Z
Nervous system	Involuntary hand movements; Parkinson`s	Nervine	Decoct plant in water & drink x2 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Nervous system	Paralysis	Nervine	Cook 200 gm of plant in 3 cups water, add +1 cup oil & drink x1 cup every morning.	Aerial parts	Z
Nervous system	Sciatica	Analgesic	Squeeze juice from leaves, drink & use as compress.	Leaf	Z
Opthalmic	Prepare antiseptic eyedrops	Anti-septic	Use juice of fresh plant as drops & apply to eye x2/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Opthalmic	Weak eyesight	Visual health	Roast leaves + Coriandrum sativum fruit, grind, sift & apply to eyelid rim like "kohol" (eyeliner). (See NOTES 2.)	Leaf	Z
Poisons	Poisoning	Antidote	Eat fresh green leaves + stems.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Respiratory	Asthma/ allergic cough	Anti-allergy, Anti-asthmatic, Anti-tussive	1. Cook plant in water & drink. 2. Allergic cough: decoct plant in water & drink x3 small cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Ritual/ Ceremonial	Against the evil eye	Ritual	1. Place whole plant in the house or plant it in the garden. (B) 2. Plant in front of home, cut leaves on 10th & 20th days of Hebrew month with a gold coin; dry leaves & prepare as an amulet to wear.(Z)	Aerial parts, Leaf, Whole plant (? aerial parts + root)	B, Z
Venoms, Bites & Stings	Scorpion bite	Anti-venom	Squeeze juice from leaves, drink & use as compress.	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Accelerate labour	Oxytocic	Use juice from leaves & apply as compress to abdomen.	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Induce abortion	Abortifacient	Use "5 dirhams of leaves" (See NOTES 4). (Further details Preparation/ Admin. not specified).	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Promote menstruation	Emmenagogue	Prepare bath with leaves + Dittrichia viscosa leaves.	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Uterine inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Mix aerial parts & leaves + Pelargonium sp. (See NOTES 3) + Rosmarinus+ Curcuma + Origanum sp. + little salt; prepare tampon & use vaginally	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z

Other Uses

Ruta chalepensis L.

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Culinary	Seasoning, fragrant & flavorful for olives;	Seasoning	Add to olives during preparation.	Aerial parts	Z

System/State

Complaint / Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/Administration

Parts Used

Source

Culinary

Seasoning, fragrant & flavorful for olives;

Seasoning

Add to olives during preparation.

Aerial parts

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1. Corn stigmata/ Stigmata maydis refers to stigmas of the female flowers of maize, (corn silk, Zea maydis).
2. In the recipe for weak eyesight, "khol" or "kohol" is an ancient eye cosmetic used in mascara as eyeliner & to protect the eyes from the harmful effects of the sun. Composed of Lead sulphide (PbS or Galena) it was applied especially amongst populations living in desert conditions. "Kohl " often had other ingredients.
3. In the recipe for uterine inflammation, Pelagonium sp. are southern African plants of the Geranium family.
4. For the recipe to induce an abortion using " 5 dirhams of leaves", Z notes that because the dirham is a coin, "5 dirhams" may refer to either its monetary value or weight.

Cautions

Ruta genus has some species which may contain quinoline alkaloids & coumarins. Photoxic reactions on skin are possible after exposure to sunlight. Volatile oil orally is associated with gastric symptoms. Contraindicated in poor kidney function & pregnancy as can cause abortion. Fatal toxicity in large doses.