Health Benefits of Rue Essential Oil
The health benefits of Rue Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like antidote to poison, anti arthritic and anti rheumatic, anti bacterial, anti fungal, insecticidal, nervous sedative, digestive, anti epileptic and anti hysteric.
The Essential Oil of Rue is extracted by steam distillation of the fresh plants of Rue, whose botanical name is Ruta Graveolens. The main components of this oil are Bergaptene, Butanone, Nonanone, Nonyl Acetate, Psoralen, Undecanone and Xanthotoxin.
Rue, or Ruta, as it is commonly known, has been a well known entity in the homeopathic system of medicines, and like most of the herbal extracts which these medicines are made from, it is very poisonous. But again, it is this toxic or poisonous effect of Rue which makes it useful as a medicine. Utmost care should be taken while handling this Essential Oil of Rue and direct contact with skin, eyes, smelling or ingestion should be avoided.
That was in a way the negative aspect of Rue Essential Oil. Let us explore its positive aspects.
Health benefits of rue essential oil
Antidote to Poison: Rue Essential Oil, itself being poisonous, acts as an antidote for a few other poisons and can be administered against symptoms of poisoning. But it is effective on neurotoxins and not on haemotoxins. It can be helpful to counter poisoning and induce vomiting in case of any poisonous staff is ingested. It is particularly beneficial against intoxication by narcotics, venomous snake bites (snakes like cobra, king cobra etc. which have neurotoxic venom, not vipers which have haemotoxins), insect bites, stings etc.
Antiarthritic & Antirheumatic: It is effective in reducing pain in joints associated with arthritis and rheumatism, due to de-sensitizing and numbing effects, which work something like an anesthetic.
Antibacterial: The toxic nature of Rue Essential Oil is effective in killing bacteria and preventing bacterial infections. If it has be taken orally at all (normally forbidden), it should be taken in very-very mild concentration and under supervision of an expert. It can get you rid of food poisoning by bacteria like salmonella, bacterial infections in colon, intestines, urinary tract etc. as well as those on skin.
Antifungal: The same toxic nature of this essential oil explains its anti fungal properties too. It can effectively terminate fungal growth in and outside the body and can give protection against fugal diseases like Athletes Foot, Dermatitis, de-complexion of skin and some types of food poisoning etc.
Insecticidal: It is yet another brighter aspect of the toxic properties of this oil. It is more poisonous to insects and thus effective in killing and driving them away. It can be used in vaporizers, fumigants, burners and incense sticks to keep away insects.
Nervous Sedative: The neurotoxic nature of this oil acts as a sedative for nerves and calms down nervous disturbances and afflictions, convulsions and nervous hyper-activity, resulting in trembling limbs and uncontrolled involuntary actions.
Digestive: Although it is not known to promote digestion, it can help relieve indigestion, particularly those resulting from bacterial activities.
Anti-epileptic & Anti-hysteric: Being a nervous sedative, it is very effective in countering epileptic and hysteric attacks. The neurotoxins in this oil induce numbness in the nerves and make them totally relaxed and de-sensitized, thereby making the patient go calm, inactive and tranquilized.
Other Benefits: Can be used as a disinfectant and in treatment of boils, warts, swelling resulting from insect bites and sting etc.
Few Words of Caution: It acts as irritant to skin and mucus membrane as well as it is phototoxic, neuro-toxic and abortifacient. Being an abortifacient, it can result into abortions. So it should be strictly avoided in pregnancy.
Blending: It blends well with essential oils of Bay, Benzoin, Chamomile, Fennel, Frankincense, Myrrh, Thyme, Pennyroyal and Wormwood.
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