Common Name: |
Goat's Rue |
Other Names: |
French Honeysuckle, French Lilac, Italian Fitch |
Botanical Name: |
Galega officinalis |
Genus: |
Galega |
Family: |
Papilionaceae |
Cultivation: |
Moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. May self-sow excessively in good conditions. |
Native Location: |
C and S Europe, Turkey to Pakistan |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in spring; by division in autumn or spring. |
Harvest: |
Plants are cut as flowering begins and dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, powders, and tinctures. |
Height: |
1-1.5m (3-5ft) |
Width: |
60cm-1m (2-3ft) |
Variations: |
Alba Has white flowers. |
Hardiness: |
Z3-9 |
Parts Used: |
Whole plant, leaf, tip of branch. |
Properties: |
A bitter, mildly diuretic herb tha increases milk flow, lowers blood sugar levels, and improved digestion. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for insufficient lactation, late-onset diabetes, pancreatitis, and digestive problems, especially chronic constipation caused by lack of digestive enzymes. For use by professional practitioners only in the treatment of diabetes. As a supportive therapy for diabetes, to increase the production of milk, and as a diuretic. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of goat's rue is approximately 1 tsp of dried leaves mixed with 8 oz boiling water, steeped for 15 minutes, then strained, and taken as a tea. |
Possible Side Effects: |
There are no known side effects when goat's rue is taken in recommended therapeutic dosages. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking goat's rue with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): |
Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose) |
Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide) |
Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide) |
Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) |
Glimepiride, (Amaryl) |
Glipizide, (Glucotrol) |
Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip) |
Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm) |
Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase) |
Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance) |
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R) |
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet) |
Miglitol, (Glyset) |
Nateglinide, (Starlix) |
Pioglitazone, (Actos) |
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin) |
Rosiglitazone, (Avandia) |
Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet) |
Tolazamide, (Tolinase) |
Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab) |
|
Lab Test Alterations: |
May decrease blood glucose concentrations. |
Disease Effects: |
May complicate diabetes therapy by pushing blood sugar down too far. |
Supplement Interactions: |
May increase blood glucose-lowering effects and risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with herbs and supplements that lower glucose levels, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, Devil's Claw, Panax Ginseng, and Psyllium. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pg 218 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. PP.249-250 |