Rue also known as Herb of Grace. Although the culinary use of this bitter herb is banned in France because of the unfounded belief that it can induce abortions, rue is employed in eastern Europe to flavour cream cheeses and marinades. The herb’s name is not related to the rue that means to be sorrowful, a word that is also the source of ruthless. Instead, the herb rue takes its name, via French and Latin, from a Greek name for the plant, rhute. The herb was first referred to in English in the late fourteenth century.
An aromatic Eurasian perennial with vitamin D rich leaves that yield a volatile oil.
An evergreen shrub used medicinally to treat eyestrain and insomnia or as an insect repellent. Available at health food stores.
Pungent bitter leaves used sparingly in stews, salads, sandwiches and vegetable juice. Two leaves chewed will quickly relieve nervous headache. In early times judges relied on fresh sprigs of rue to repel fleas brought into court by prisoners.