Rue: Magical Properties & Uses

Rue is the most powerful hex-breaker and curse-remover in the Western magical tradition: when gentler herbs have not shifted what has been sent against you, rue is what you reach for next. It is not a subtle herb: it burns on the skin, its scent is sharp and unpleasant, and its magical action is direct. Where the harm is in place it removes it; where it is coming it deflects it. It is worn on the body for serious protection, burned to break crossed conditions, and added to protective floor washes. The Italian cimaruta charm represents centuries of continuous practical use in exactly this context.

Rue (Ruta graveolens) has been used medicinally since antiquity but must be approached with significant caution. It is a powerful emmenagogue and abortifacient: it must never be used in pregnancy. It was used historically for eye complaints, headaches, and as an insect repellent. The leaves cause photosensitisation: contact with broken leaves followed by sun exposure causes a chemical burn. Its historical medical use has been largely superseded by safer alternatives, and it is today handled primarily as a magical and ornamental herb.

Aradia, Diana

Rue is called the Herb of Grace (its Latin name Ruta relates to the Greek for to set free) and was used throughout the medieval and early modern period to free a person from magical attack, curse, and evil influence. In ancient Rome it was given to visitors as a protective charm. Shakespeare's Ophelia names rue the herb of repentance. In Italian folk magic it is the central ingredient of the cimaruta (the rue charm) worn against the evil eye. Leonardo da Vinci reportedly ate rue daily to improve his eyesight and creative vision. No herb in the Western tradition has a more continuous history of use in serious protective magic.