
Fresh goat’s rue is toxic and can be fatal. It can also cause ache in the muscles. Do not take this herb without a consultation with a doctor.
Is goat’s Rue toxic?
Toxicity has been observed with other guanidine derivatives. Goat’s rue is a perennial herb found in temperate grassland regions of Asia and Europe. It also grows wild in damp fields in Britain. 1 The plant, which prefers damp, low-lying areas and sandy soil, grows to about 1 m in height.
Why is it called Goat's rue?
The dried aerial parts of the plant are harvested during the summer flowering season and used medicinally. The plant has no scent unless bruised, in which case it emits a disagreeable odor, from which the name "goat's rue" may have originated.
Is goat's rue lactogenic?
2 Reports of the lactogenic effects of the plant exist. 26 Goat's rue given to cows would increase milk secretion from 35% to 50%. 5 Goat's rue is recommended in veterinary medicine to stimulate milk secretion.
What is the appropriate dose of goat's rue?
The appropriate dose of goat's rue depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for goat's rue. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important.

Is goat's rue toxic to humans?
No harmful effects have been reported in humans, but fatal poisoning has occurred in grazing animals that ate large quantities of goat's rue.
What is Goats Rue herb good for?
Goat's rue is used along with conventional treatment for diabetes and as a diuretic. In combination with other herbs, goat's rue is used to stimulate the adrenal gland and pancreas; to protect the liver; for digestion problems; and to start the flow of breast milk.
Is goat's rue edible?
In ancient herbalism, goat's-rue was used as a diuretic. It can be poisonous to mammals, but is a food for various insects....Galega officinalisSubfamily:FaboideaeGenus:GalegaSpecies:G. officinalisBinomial name10 more rows
Is goat's rue the same as metformin?
Metformin (dimethylbiguanide) has become the preferred first-line oral blood glucose-lowering agent to manage type 2 diabetes. Its history is linked to Galega officinalis (also known as goat's rue), a traditional herbal medicine in Europe, found to be rich in guanidine, which, in 1918, was shown to lower blood glucose.
How much Goats Rue can I take?
Directions. Take 1 capsule 4 times daily. For women over 180 lbs take 2 capsules 3 times daily. For maximum effectiveness, avoid more than 1-2 ounces of liquid 15 minutes before and after each dose.
How long does it take goat's rue to work?
2-3 weeksHow long does it take for goat's rue to increase milk supply? Most women will notice a difference within a few days, however, it may take 2-3 weeks to notice the effects. In some studies, women noticed an increase after only a couple of days of taking goat's rue.
Why is it called Goats Rue?
The name “goat's-rue” is based on the plant having been fed to goats with the belief that it increased milk production, but that use has been discontinued. The name “devil's-shoestrings” relates to the plant's long, tough fibrous roots.
What does goat's rue taste like?
The plant is without scent, unless bruised, when it emits a disagreeable odour, whence perhaps its name of Goat's Rue. It has a mucilaginous and somewhat bitter and astringent taste. It colours the saliva yellowish-green, if chewed.
Is there another name for goats rue?
Goat's rue is also known by other popular names such as Common goat's, Milkpea, French Lilac, Italian fitch. Goat's rue is a good source of galegine, a bioactive plant compound with blood glucose-lowering activity that is beneficial in regulating symptoms of diabetes mellitus.
What herb is metformin made from?
Metformin, class biguanide, is a synthetic derivative of French Lilac (Galega officinalis), a herbal plant traditionally employed in Europe for diabetes treatment [23]. In 1957 French diabetologist Jean Sterne first published the drug's properties and result of administration in humans for diabetes [24].
What exactly does metformin do to your body?
Metformin works by helping to restore the body's response to insulin. It decreases the amount of blood sugar that the liver produces and that the intestines or stomach absorb.
Will goat's rue increase breast tissue?
Goat's rue is one of the most potent herbs to help build mammary tissue. For this reason, it can be particularly helpful for women who did not experience an increase in breast size during pregnancy, women who have had breast surgeries, and adoptive mothers.
Does goat's rue help with weight loss?
Several studies have revealed that regular intake of goat's rue extract along with a strict diet significantly helped in losing body fat. Guanidine, a precursor to metformin is known for this effect that works by suppressing appetite and delays hunger pangs, which may help one to consume fewer calories.
Will goat's rue increase breast tissue?
Goat's rue is one of the most potent herbs to help build mammary tissue. For this reason, it can be particularly helpful for women who did not experience an increase in breast size during pregnancy, women who have had breast surgeries, and adoptive mothers.
What is rue tea good for?
What is it used for? In traditional healing practices, Rue tea has been used to promote menstruation, against hypertension and to treat hysteria. Crushed rue leaves are placed in the ear canal to relieve ear aches and headaches.
Why is it called goat's rue?
The name “goat's-rue” is based on the plant having been fed to goats with the belief that it increased milk production, but that use has been discontinued. The name “devil's-shoestrings” relates to the plant's long, tough fibrous roots.
Where does goat rue grow?
Botany. Goat’s rue is a perennial herb found in temperate grassland regions of Asia and Europe. It also grows wild in damp fields in Britain. 1 The plant, which prefers damp, low-lying areas and sandy soil, grows to about 1 m in height.
What are the derivatives of goat's rue?
Guanidine derivatives, including galegine (isoamylene-guanidine) and hydroxygalegine, are present in all parts of goat's rue. 3, 4 Several older reports confirm the presence of galegine and related compounds. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 A later study discusses the presence of several guanidine derivatives, including galegine and 4-hydroxygalegine flavones, and flavone glycosides. 15 The flavonol triglycosides kaempferol and quercetin have been found in the plant, 16 as have norterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid glycosides, including the rare norterpenoid glycoside dearabinosyl pneumonanthoside. 17 Vasicine and other quinazoline alkaloids have been confirmed in Galega spp. 18 Other constituents, including peganine, various flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, are also present in goat's rue. 3, 4, 19, 20
How much milk does galactogogue produce?
Women receiving the galactogogue produced 200 mL (110 to 380 mL) each day compared with 115 mL (60 to 245 mL) with placebo ( P <0.0001). Women receiving the galactogogue produced more milk (6,523±5,298 mL) during the study period compared with those receiving placebo (4,136±4,093 mL, P <0.02). No adverse effects were reported. 21
What is goat rue used for?
Use. Goat's rue and its derivatives have been used in the management of diabetes mellitus to reduce blood sugar levels. Goat’s rue has also been used for its lactogenic effects to increase milk production. It has tonic, liver protectant, and platelet aggregation inhibitory effects, and has been evaluated for its diuretic and weight loss effects.
Why is goat rue considered a diuretic?
Due to its potential diuretic effects, goat’s rue might be considered for disturbances related to secretion of fluids, such as GI ailments (eg, fermentive dyspepsia, gastrocardiac syndrome, diarrhea). Goat's rue is said to stimulate the adrenal glands and pancreas and to aid in glandular disturbances.
Is goat rue a tonic?
Goat's rue has been used as a tonic , liver protectant, 5 and platelet aggregation inhibitor. 32, 33, 34, 35 It may also possess antioxidant effects, which can vary according to the type of extract. 8, 36 G. officinalis extracts were also noted to have variable cytotoxic activity against glioblastoma and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. An in vitro study demonstrated that an extract of G. officinalis as well as galegine visually changed the color of melanoma cells and reduced the melanin content. 37
Is goat rue poisonous?
Toxic effects of goat’s rue have been reported, with most data derived from studies in sheep . Dyspnea, anoxia, and foaming nasal discharge were observed in ewes ingesting doses as small as 0.8 g/kg/day. Hydrothorax, lung congestion, foamy exudates in the bronchioles and trachea, epicardial and endocardial petechiation, and pericardial effusion were noted in sheep that died. Microscopic alterations in the lungs were also noted. 39, 40 In 3 sheep with poisoning from G. officinalis, an asphyxic syndrome occurred and led to death within hours. 41 Galegine is suspected to be the cause of toxicity. 8
What is goat rue?
Goat's Rue (Galega Officinalis) - (Credit: Image By Peganum ) Goat’s rue, botanically known as ‘Galega officinalis L., is used in folk medicine to treat various health ailments and disorders. It is a flowering plant and the over-ground part of this medicinal herb holds excellent medicinal properties. The presence of various plant compounds in ...
Where is goat rue native to?
Goat’s rue is native to the Middle East, South-eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, inflammation and malignant fever.
How to make goat's rue tea?
It is available in the market or you can even prepare it at home. How to make this tea: Boil 1 teaspoon goat’s rue in 1 cup of water for 2-3 minutes. You can drink this tea 2-3 times a day. You can improve the flavor the tea by adding one of the below-mentioned ingredients: Cinnamon.
What are the hormones in goat's rue?
Prolactin is a hormone responsible for the secretion of milk in breastfeeding mothers. Dried leaves of this plant improve lactation and enhance the production of breast milk as well as increase the size of the breast tissue. Phytoestrogens present in goat’s rue include: Triglycosides. Flavonol.
What is the drug made from goat's rue?
Metformin, a potent anti-hyperglycemic drug is produced from the guanidine derivatives present in goat’s rue. Compounds present in this medicinal plant, stimulate the release of insulin, which helps in controlling blood glucose level.
Does goat rue have estrogen?
Phytoestrogens present in goat’s rue are plant chemicals that mimic the action of estrogen. They bind to the estrogen receptors and increase the concentration of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone responsible for the secretion of milk in breastfeeding mothers.
Does goat's rue help with diabetes?
Controls Diabetes Mellitus. Goat’s rue has been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, since the early 1900s. ‘Guanidine’ is the active ingredient present in goat’s rue that helps in lowering the blood glucose levels. Metformin, a potent anti-hyperglycemic drug is produced from the guanidine derivatives present in goat’s rue.
What is goat's rue?
Goat's rue is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse goat's rue (Galega officinalis) with rue (Ruta graveolens).
How long before surgery can you stop goat's rue?
There is concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using goat's rue at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Does goat's rue cause blood sugar to go down?
In theory, goat's rue might make bleeding disorders worse. Diabetes: Goat's rue might lower blood sugar levels in some people. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use goat's rue. Surgery: Goat's rue might affect blood sugar levels.
Can you take goat's rue while pregnant?
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking goat's rue if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Bleeding conditions: Goat's rue might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. In theory, goat's rue might make bleeding disorders worse.
Is there scientific information on goat's rue?
The appropriate dose of goat's rue depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for goat's rue.
Is goat rue poisonous?
There isn't enough information to know whether goat's rue is safe. No harmful effects have been reported in humans, but fatal poisoning has occurred in grazing animals that ate large quantities of goat's rue.
What are the drawbacks of goat's rue?
This herb has two significant drawbacks, however. It chokes out native plant species, driving away the wildlife that feed on or shelter in them. It also poisons grazing livestock; affected animals foam at the nostrils, accumulate fluid in the lungs and around the heart, and usually die. Goat’s rue is a weed in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Turkey, and eastern Asia, as well as the United States. By far the worst U.S. infestation has been in Utah. By 1980, 39,000 acres in Cache County had been overrun by goat’s rue, introduced in 1891 as a potential forage or green manure crop. Sheep feeding on it were dying. (Interestingly, not every sheep that ate goat’s rue became ill; a 1988 study concluded that individual sheep have differing susceptibility to the poison, which has been identified as the alkaloid galegine.) By 1996, 90 percent of the population of goat’s rue plants had been eradicated through a combination of crop rotation, mowing, plowing, herbicides, and manual removal of seedpods. Some plants still remain, however.
Why is goat's rue called "goat's rue"?
Given its botanical name by Linnaeus in the eighteenth century, goat’s rue had already been in use for centuries as a remedy for everything from indigestion to snakebite. The Germans called goat’s rue Pestilenzkraut (“plague herb”) because of its reputation for curing infectious diseases.
Why is goat's rue used in medicine?
It was also considered a mild diuretic, digestive, and treatment for pancreatitis and chronic constipation caused by lack of digestive enzymes.
Is goat's rue a medicinal plant?
You can be sure that any herb whose specific epithet is officinalis (“of the [apothecary’s] storeroom”) has a long history as a medicinal plant. Goat’s rue is no exception. Given its botanical name by Linnaeus in the eighteenth century, goat’s rue had already been in use for centuries as a remedy for everything from indigestion to snakebite.
Is goat rue weed a weed?
That crisis may have subsided, but to avert another one, goat’s rue is on the Federal Noxious Weed List, which means that growing it anywhere in the United States is prohibited. Not listed, however, is G. orientalis, a similar species native to the Caucasus with larger leaves and lavender flowers that is hardy in Zones 5 to 8. If you decide to grow this species, cut all blooms to avoid letting any seedpods mature; one invasion of goat’s rue is one too many.
Stem
Generally grows 2-5 ft. tall; highly branched with numerous stems that arise from the crown
Leaves
Pinnately-compound with 5-8 pairs of leaflets; leaflets are oval to lance-shaped, 0.5-1.5 in. long and lack hair (glabrous); edges (margins) are smooth
Flower
Purple to white, less than 0.5 in. long and clustered on stalks at tips of branches
Other
Grows best in moist areas; often found in fencelines, pastures, roadsides, marshy areas and along waterways; not known to occur in Nevada
What is the alkaloid in goat's rue?
At the end of the 19 th century, chemists discovered the alkaloid in goat’s rue, responsible for the blood sugar lowering effect. It was galegine, a derivative of guanidine. There were a variety of guanidine derivatives found in goat’s rue but galegine or isoprenyl guanidine proved to be the least toxic one. Due to its short duration of action ...
Why is goat's rue used?
Most sources claim that goat’s rue has been used historically to lower the blood sugar and as a galactagogue (increase milk production), however “a garden of Medicinal plants” claims that this is untrue. They confirm that goat’s rue was used for severe maladies like bubonic plague, infectious diseases, malignant fevers, epilepsy, worms, ...
Is goat rue safe for sheep?
Herbalists used the plant for a long time and it is generally deemed safe. Most sources tell that further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of this herb. For goats and sheep, this plant is generally regarded as toxic and there have been various reports of sudden livestock death after feeding on goat’s rue.
Is goat's rue safe for humans?
To me, that sounds neither safe nor healthy! For goat’s rue on the other hand, literature mentions little side effects for humans; mainly that it lowers the blood sugar, which is wanted if you treat diabetes but a side effect when you want to increase breast milk.
Is goat rue a medicinal plant?
Everyone can grow or gather it or otherwise buy it cheaply at a dispensary, there’s no money in medicinal plants! Goat’s rue is so easy to grow that it might even classify as a permaculture plant, a member of the legume family and thus a nitrogen fixer a medicinal and a good bee crop in one.
Is goat rue poisonous?
Why goat’s rue sometimes poisonous to ruminants, but in other instances it was used safely for increasing milk production (dairy farmers are doing it tough right now!). Whether goat’s rue is really safe for humans. If and how it can be used for diabetes, weight-loss, cancer-cure and prevention and anti-ageing.
Common Name (s)
The common names tell its history. Goat's Rue was fed to goats to increase milk production. It is no longer used as a feed for goats due to it containing rotenone which is now used as a pesticide. It is also used as fish poison, which is produced by pounding the roots. Another common name, Devil's Shoestring, refers to its long stringy roots.
Previously known as
The common names tell its history. Goat's Rue was fed to goats to increase milk production. It is no longer used as a feed for goats due to it containing rotenone which is now used as a pesticide. It is also used as fish poison, which is produced by pounding the roots. Another common name, Devil's Shoestring, refers to its long stringy roots.

Clinical Overview
Botany
History
Chemistry
Uses and Pharmacology
Dosing
Pregnancy / Lactation
Interactions
Adverse Reactions
Toxicology
- Toxic effects of goat’s rue have been reported, with most data derived from studies in sheep. Dyspnea, anoxia, and foaming nasal discharge were observed in ewes ingesting doses as small as 0.8 g/kg/day. Hydrothorax, lung congestion, foamy exudates in the bronchioles and trachea, epicardial and endocardial petechiation, and pericardial effusion were...