Description
Syrian rue is a small perennial bush. It typically stands 2 feet tall by about the same wide. The plant is somewhat dense due to its many-branched stems and finely divided leaves. They form alternately along the stem, are smooth, green, semi-succulent, and linear. The flowers form at branch ends, are white and have 5 petals. Syrian rue’s capsules are 2-4 celled and contain many seeds.
Distribution
Syrian rue has a wide Central Asian and Middle Eastern distribution. The plant in this country, as an escapee, is most concentrated around the southern most part of the border between Arizona and New Mexico. From there it is found along primary and secondary roadsides to the El Paso area. An isolated grouping now exists in central Nevada.
Chemistry
Indole alkaloids: harmol, harmalol, harmine, harmaline, harmalidine, and isoharmine; a non-indole alkaloid: vasicine; anthraquinones
Medicinal Uses
Syrian rue is a broadly acting medicinal plant, mainly due to its indole group of alkaloids, which have been extensively researched given their pharmacological activity. Seed preparations tend to be mildly mood elevating due to their monoamine oxidase inhibition. The plant reduces serotonin re-uptake in neuronal synapses. Although Syrian rue’s immediate mood-altering effects are more pronounced than St. Johns wort’s, after time its effect tends to lose potency. Syrian rue is better used in formula with other emotionally uplifting herbs, as alone it may impede coherent thought processes, usher in feelings of giddiness, and cause some gastro-intestinal upset.
Coincident with Syrian rue’s traditional use as an antipyretic, research suggests the plant’s indole alkaloid group reduces body temperature slightly. This is due to the plant’s effect on the hypothalamus and other cerebral centers responsible for body temperature regulation. This activity suggests the plant is of use lowering a high fever. Being inhibiting to various bacterial and fungal strains, the tincture or seed poultice applied topically is broadly antimicrobial. Use on infected cuts and scrapes and on skin funguses.
Indications
Mild depression
Fever
Infection, bacterial and fungal (external)
Collection Just before the seedpods split and open, clip them from the plant. Place loosely in a paper bag and dry. Crush the papery seedpods with your hands in the bag. Discard the seedpods. Keep the seeds for medicine.
Preparations
The seed tincture’s dark red-burgundy color is quite striking.
Dosage DPT (60% alcohol): 30-60 drops 3 times daily
Seed poultice/powder/oil/salve: topically as needed
Cautions
Do not use Syrian rue with other psychoactive pharmaceuticals, particularly MAO inhibitors. The plant should not be used during pregnancy (or nursing) due to its potential emmenagogue effect.
Other Uses
A dye from the seeds, called Turkish red, was used in textile coloring and in dying Turkish rugs.