The rue captivates by its yellow flowers, which are usually found in large numbers. Precisely because of its great popularity as an ornamental plant and likewise as a medicinal herb, the plant had to be placed under conservation to prevent complete extinction. The rue offers many possibilities to be used as a medicinal plant and therefore it is worthwhile to take a look at the different areas of application and mode of action.
Occurrence and cultivation of the rue.
Just because of its great popularity as an ornamental plant and equally as a medicinal herb, the plant had to be placed under nature protection to prevent complete extinction. The real noble rue is a silky-haired plant, which inspires in particular also by its pleasant smell. The rue belongs to the family of the composite plants and also belongs to the mugwort species. The herbaceous and at the same time short grassy plant persists for several years and grows between 5 and 15 centimeters high. The leaves of the rue have different shapes. The basal leaves appear double, tripartite and as fingered stem leaves. Attractive and eye-catching are the tubular flowers, which shine in yellow color and form a cluster of several three to five millimeter round flower heads. The flowering time of the real rue, which is called Artemisia umbelliformis in technical terminology, is in the months from July to September. The plants of the rue are found especially in the mountains of both Central and Southwestern Europe. Thus, especially the higher mountains in the Alps and also in the Carpathian Mountains offer a pleasant home for the rue. Austria offers very diverse occurrences, where the rue can be found in Vorarlberg and Tyrol as well as in Upper Carinthia, Styria and Salzburg. In the altitudes from 1,300 meters to 3,700 meters, it is mostly rocks, rock crevices, scree slopes and also moraine and rock debris that offer the best locations for the Edelraute. Especially wind-exposed sites as well as low-calcium and base-rich stony substrates are optimal areas where the rue feels at home. Thereby, as far as the locations allow, they grow out in large carpets of many plants and thus achieve an attractive picture of a beautiful plant. The rue has always enjoyed great popularity. This was partly because it was used by many as an ornamental herb, and also as a medicinal herb has always been very important. However, this also led to the fact that the rue was increasingly rare to find and partly even eradicated. For this reason, it was also understandably placed under nature protection. This should always be kept in mind, because the collection of this plant is of course strictly prohibited by this.
Effect and application
The effect of the rue as a medicinal plant is undisputed. In this regard, especially the ingredients of the rue are of great importance. Namely, this attractive plant contains both essential oils and effective bitter substances and sesquiterpene lactones. The effects of the rue are very different. On the one hand, the plants are excellent for stimulating the appetite, and on the other hand, they are also effective for the stomach, which has a digestive effect. At the same time, they pleasantly help regulate menstruation. In addition, there are tonic, wound-healing and also diaphoretic properties, which can be effectively used in corresponding problems and are a great healing help. Used of the Real Edelraute are mainly the flowering Edelrauten as well as the roots of the plant, in order to achieve and enjoy the best possible healing effect. These components of the rue should be dried before the healing use, but this is best done in a gentle way in the shade. They can then be used as a medicinal herb, with applications both internally and externally. Often, in addition to tea or poultices, the rue is also used to make tasty liqueurs, the taste of which is not inferior to the healing properties of the plant.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The rue is used as a remedy for various ailments and is especially – the locations of the rue do not suggest otherwise – very popular with mountain farmers as a medicinal herb.These use the rue in particular as a remedy for fever and also for pleurisy. Even in pneumonia or any kind of cold, the rue is considered an effective medicine from the pure nature of the mountains. In addition, the rue also has the property to strengthen the stomach with its use as a natural medicine. Even though medicinal herbs are very highly regarded by many as a natural medicine, one should always inform oneself in the best possible way before carelessly making use of the healing properties of these plants. Because side effects can always occur or the applications are made too often and exaggerated. Not infrequently, this can then cause other problems in addition to a healing effect, which is why a brief consultation with a doctor can never be amiss, in order to really draw a medical advantage from the use of the Real Edelraute.
