Ruta graveolens

Prepared from the fresh herb Ruta graveolens, a shrubby, strongly aromatic perennial native to southern Europe. The plant contains rutin, a flavonoid, and volatile oils that can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Proved by Hahnemann, published in Materia Medica Pura and Chronic Diseases, with later confirmations by Boenninghausen and Hering

Ruta is the remedy of mechanical overuse. Where the fabric of the body—tendons, ligaments, and bone coverings—is stretched, bruised, or inflamed, Ruta restores integrity. The personality often reflects discipline, silent endurance, and a strong work ethic, until the body gives way. Pains are deep, aching, and resistant to rest. There is a loss of tone, of resilience, both physically and mentally. Wherever there is strain—of the eye, spine, pelvis, or limbs—Ruta follows.

• Fibrous tissue and periosteum: tendons, ligaments, cartilage
• Joints: overuse injuries, especially wrists, knees
• Eyes: ciliary muscle fatigue, vision strain
• Lower back and sacrum: pain from lifting, sitting, or injury
• Rectum and anus: haemorrhoids, prolapse from straining
• Pelvic organs: uterine prolapse, weakness
• Connective tissue: general tone loss, bruising tendency

Ruta individuals tend to be stoic, industrious, and often overwork themselves, particularly physically. Mental state often subdued, with a feeling of heaviness, weariness, or frustration from incapacity to work due to pain. There may be anxiety about health, especially when pain limits activity. Irritability arises from chronic pain or the inability to rest. Obsessive focus on physical sensations, especially musculoskeletal discomfort. Low spirits from confinement or inactivity [Kent].

Restless sleep due to pain or muscular tension. Difficulty getting comfortable. Sleep improved by changing positions. Dreams may involve work or repetitive tasks.

Dreams of falling, fatigue, or physical strain. Dreams of work, obligations. Restless or vivid dreams leave patient fatigued on waking.

Overuse remedy par excellence. Worsened by strains, sprains, repetitive motion, lifting, or standing. Better from lying on back, pressure, and warmth. Symptoms return with every exertion. Pain is deep-seated, located in periosteum, ligaments, tendons. Bruised, aching, sprained sensations dominate.

Low-grade fever with aching in limbs. Chilliness from overexertion. Heat localised to inflamed tendons or joints. No significant febrile pattern unless secondary to trauma.

Chills from cold damp exposure. Heat in face or head. Sweat suppressed by cold wind, leading to joint pain. Sweat scanty during pain states.

Headache from eye strain, particularly in readers, writers, or students. Sensation of tension across the forehead or temples. Pressing pain above the eyes, aggravated by close work. Pain better from closing eyes or pressing on them. Scalp tender. Head feels full, heavy, or bruised [Clarke].

Strained, overused, burning, or aching eyes. Eyes feel bruised or sore from prolonged reading or sewing. Vision becomes blurred or indistinct. Pain deep in orbit or from ocular muscle fatigue. Sensation of a weight pressing the eyes into the head. Photophobia. Objects seem too bright or shimmering. Excellent remedy for ciliary neuralgia and asthenopia [Hering].

Sensation of fullness or pressure in ears. Hearing not notably affected unless in conjunction with neuralgic pain extending from head or jaw. May be dull or echoic from cervical tension.

Little direct involvement; may experience dryness or irritation of nostrils in dry or windy weather. Nasal bone tenderness possible after trauma.

Expression drawn or grim from pain. Face pale or flushed. Bruised sensation in facial bones, especially cheekbones and maxilla. Tearing facial pain from dental or sinus strain.

Dryness of mouth with little thirst. Metallic taste. Tongue may feel thick or bruised. Pain in the jaws after dental work or overuse. Saliva scanty.

Toothache after dental procedures or clenching. Bruised sensation in the gums. Pain worse from cold air or lying on affected side. Tenderness around roots. Helpful after difficult extractions.

Soreness and rawness, especially after vocal strain. Constriction or pressure, worse from cold air. Dry, tickling cough from throat irritation. Throat symptoms often secondary to tension in neck or jaw.

Bruised pain in ribs or sternum after injury or overuse. Costal cartilage inflammation. Stitching pain on coughing or deep breathing. Pain localised to breastbone after exertion.

Palpitations from strain or exhaustion. Feeling of pressure or tightness over heart. Heart symptoms may mimic musculoskeletal pain. Pulse soft, slow after rest.

Shortness of breath from mechanical restriction—e.g., strained intercostal muscles. Difficulty breathing in cold air. Pain with inspiration. Breath shallow in presence of chest pain.

Nausea from overexertion or muscular fatigue. Heaviness after meals. Hunger soon after eating. Dyspepsia from physical exhaustion or strain. Stomach feels tight or full.

Abdominal wall sore as if bruised. Stitching pains in hypogastrium after exertion. Flatulence trapped, causing discomfort. Cramping pains in athletes or manual workers.

Rectal prolapse, particularly after difficult stool or childbirth [Clarke]. Haemorrhoids that protrude, are sore, and feel bruised. Constipation from sedentary lifestyle. Ineffectual urging with rectal weakness. Painful, unsatisfying stool.

Frequent urging from pressure or prolapse. Urine flow interrupted or weak. Retention from perineal tension. Urethra feels bruised. Pain or aching in bladder after physical effort.

Craves: warm food, simple dishes
Aversion: rich or heavy food
Worse from: alcohol, cold drinks
Better from: eating small meals after fatigue

Bruised testicles, epididymitis after strain. Pain in spermatic cord. Reduced libido from fatigue or back pain. Weakness of sexual organs after overexertion.

Uterine prolapse, sense of weight or dragging in pelvis, worsened by standing or walking [Hering]. Menses scanty, late, and painful. Backache during menses. After childbirth: pain in pelvic ligaments, bruised feeling in sacrum. Good remedy for ligamentous laxity postpartum.

Key area of action. Lumbosacral pain from strain, bending, or lifting. Worse from sitting on hard chairs. Pain as if spine were broken. Better from lying on back or pressure. Tailbone pain after falls or childbirth. Back feels bruised or beaten, especially after physical labour [Kent].

Main sphere of action. Stiffness, pain, and weakness in wrists, knees, ankles, and Achilles tendons. Pain in tendons and periosteum, especially after sprains, overexertion, or trauma. Trembling after exertion. Joints feel sprained or bruised, worse in damp weather. Cracking of joints. Ganglion cysts, bursitis, or chronic tendonitis. Bones feel fragile or inflamed. Limbs heavy and tired.

Skin slow to heal. Bruises from slight trauma. Warts, especially on hands. Ulcers from pressure or strain. Skin thickened over joints. Sensation of tension or tightness.

• Rhus toxicodendron – Also for rheumatic, sprain-like pains, but Rhus-t. is restless and improves with continued motion; Ruta has more bruised, sore, lameness, worse after overuse.
• Arnica – For trauma, soreness, and bruising; Arn. is suited to shock and soft tissue trauma, Ruta more for deep tendon and periosteal pain.
• Bryonia – Similar stitching pains and dryness; Bry. is worse from motion, Ruta better after moving but worse from overuse.
• Calcarea fluorica – For ligamentous laxity, ganglia, and chronic joint issues; more suited to chronic degenerative conditions, Ruta more acute.
• Hypericum – Neuralgia after trauma, especially of fingers and spine; more focused on nerve pain, Ruta more for connective tissue.

• Complementary: Rhus-t., Calc-f., Arn.
• Antidotes: Camph., Bell., Sulph.
• Inimical: None clearly stated
• Follows well: Arn., Bry., Rhus-t.
• Precedes well: Sil., Calc-f., Symph.

• First choice in wrist strain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, and repetitive stress injuries
• Excellent after dental surgery, especially extractions or bruxism
• Use in ligament laxity, ganglion cysts, and Achilles tendonitis
• For ciliary fatigue, prescribe after long reading or computer use
• Acute: 6C–30C, repeated as needed
• Chronic: 200C–1M, at longer intervals
• Responds well to topical application of Ruta tincture in low dilution

Mind

• Anxiety, health about
• Irritability, from pain
• Low spirits, inactivity from

Head

• Headache, eye strain from
• Pain, above eyes
• Bruised sensation, scalp

Eyes

• Pain, eye strain, from reading
• Vision, blurred, close work
• Pain, ciliary region

Back

• Pain, lumbosacral region
• Coccyx, after fall
• Pain, after lifting

Extremities

• Pain, tendons
• Sprains, chronic
• Joints, bruised, overexertion
• Ganglion, wrist
• Pain, knees, after overuse

Rectum

• Prolapse, after stool
• Haemorrhoids, sore, protruding
• Constipation, straining, painful

Female

• Prolapse, uterus
• Pain, ligaments, menses during

Generalities

• Motion, overexertion, agg.
• Rest, after exertion, agg.
• Pressure, amel.
• Lying on back, amel.
• Weather, cold damp, agg.

Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Provided original proving, including periosteal and rectal symptoms
James Tyler Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Focused on connective tissue, eye strain, and deeper remedy essence
C. Hering – Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica: Supplied extensive musculoskeletal and pelvic complaints
William Boericke – Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Provided practical indications for trauma, eyes, and joints
John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Detailed case-based insights on strains, sprains, haemorrhoids, and prolapse