Rue (Ruta graveolens) The Herb of Grace
By Pertinax
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introduced by Rome to Brigantia , it still only grows wild in the Hills of that Kingdom ,Called the Herb of Grace as it was used as a cleanser of the brushes before High Mass. Used as an antidote to the cunning poisons of Mithridates, the Greeks considered it an "anti-magical " herb ,ie: it allayed nervous fears when dining before strangers. Roman women were said to place a branch of Rue in an infants swaddling clothes to discourage the carnal advances of an amorous husband( it helped if the infant was placed mid-way in the marital bed), I also venture to suggest it would have been a skin irritant as well 
. 2-undecanone in abundance as an active ingredient, alkoloids as well.Quite a complex chemical factory in total.It is an abortifactant, Pliny described it as " one of our chief medicinal plants" though he himself opposed abortion.Strangely its disagreeable odour becomes a pleasant taint if used in wines and distillates.
Used as a uterine stimulant if the menstrual cycle is irregular,the oil is a parasite killer (anthelmintic),Rutin is a constituent and as ( so called) vitamin P is useful for capillary fragility ( this would explain its use against oedema).
The esteemed Mr Dalby mentions its bitter presence in the Roman kitchen (p253 Empire of Pleasures).
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