Know Your Remedies – Ruta Graveolens (Ruta)

Common Names: Rue; herb-of-grace.

General Information

Ruta Graveolens (Ruta) is useful for rheumatic and connective tissue problems, especially following chronic overuse, strain, or injury of joints or tendons. Small tendons of the eye may also be affected. The person complains of soreness and stiffness, sometimes of the whole body. Rising from a chair may be difficult and the affected joint can feel as though it will “give way”. Pain and stiffness is worsened by cold, damp weather, and lying on the affected part. Warmth and gentle movement eases them. Anxiety and panic attacks may be associated with chronic symptoms.

Eye Problems

• Eyestrain and headache from prolonged close work such as reading fine print or doing needlepoint.
• Stiffness, burning and redness of the eyes after overuse.

Joint and Bone Problems

• Weakness and stiffness (e.g. when rising from a chair).
• Sore and bruised pains worse during damp weather.
• Painful nodules following injury to the surface of bones covered by thin skin, such the shin.
• Ganglions, bursitis, and tendonitis.
• Nodules on tendons.

Sprains and Strains

• Injuries to tendons (e.g. tennis elbow)
• Back pain and sciatica which improve when lying.

Teeth / Dental

• Following tooth extraction to prevent dry socket.

For Pets

• Sprains and lameness.

Where do I find it?

Ruta Graveolens (Ruta) is available from our online store as a single remedy, and as part of the following Complexes (combination remedies): Sprains and Strains.

Important

While above self-limiting or acute complaints are suitable for home treatment also contact your healthcare provider during emergency situations or if symptoms worsen or fail to improve. Chronic or persistent complaints, which may or may not be mentioned above, require a different treatment and dosage protocol so are best managed by a qualified homeopath for good results.

Dosage Instructions (suitable for babies to adults)

For the home treatment of acute and self-limiting complaints take one pill or five drops of the remedy every 1 minute to 4 hours (1 minute for intense or emergency symptoms (plus seek emergency help), 4 hours for milder ones). Once an improvement is noticed, stop dosing and repeat the remedy only if symptoms return. If there is no improvement at all by three doses, choose a different remedy or seek professional guidance.

Note: Chronic symptoms or complaints require a course of professional treatment by a qualified homeopath to manage the changes in potencies and remedies may be required.

More Information

Guidelines on which potency to use

From Past Masters

Homeopathy is a 200-year system of medicine. Early medical homeopaths recorded initial provings, remedy relationships, and their early experiences with each remedy in great detail.

These writings were then shared with others to advance homeopathic knowledge and practice.

Today, these same writings give a fascinating insight into the symptoms and clinical conditions for which each remedy was used.

The following extract, with minor editing, is one example.

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics by E. B. NASH M.D.

Ruta Graveolens (Ruta)

This remedy which has already been mentioned as to its prominent action in the periosteum, especially in injuries and effects therefrom, also, like Arnica, has a “bruised, lame sensation all over as after a fall; worse in limbs and joints,” and also “all parts of the body upon which he lies are painful, as if bruised.”

Like Rhus tox., the Ruta patient wants to change position frequently. The pains and lameness of Ruta seem to have a particular liking for the wrists. Here also must Eupat. perf. be remembered. These pains in the wrists of Ruta are, like Rhus toxicod., < in cold, wet weather, and > on motion.

There is no remedy oftener useful for eye-strain from close study, sewing, etc., than Ruta. The eyes feel weary and ache as if strained, or they burn like balls of fire. Two other remedies must be remembered for eye-strain, viz.: Natrum muriaticum and Senega. An understanding of these three remedies may save many cases of asthenopia or weakness of accommodation from the abuse of spectacles.

Ruta is also one of our best remedies for prolapsus of the rectum.

Ignatia stands closest here. Both are < on stooping, lifting, or at stool. Muriatic acid and Podophyllum should also be remembered; with the former the prolapsed organ is very sore and sensitive to the least touch, even of the sheet on which he lies, and the rectum comes down even when urinating (Aloe).

The prolapse of Podophyllum is almost always accompanied by the characteristic diarrhea, but may be the result of strain by lifting, when the uterus may also prolapse. These uses of Ruta make it a very valuable remedy.