{"id":15191,"date":"2024-12-07T11:53:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T11:53:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=15191"},"modified":"2025-07-03T08:50:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T07:50:25","slug":"goats-rue","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/goats-rue\/","title":{"rendered":"Goat\u2019s rue"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":15203,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"19d541d2-8361-4af2-b054-3cdcb2f96a01","beyondwords_preview_token":"057b3a24-a536-4af6-829a-5c4fb8b5cc6f","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[1879],"conditions":[685,693,701,698,697],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[31,18,786,28],"western_action":[993,1007,1008,1012],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-15191","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-hypoglycaemic","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-endocrine-system","conditions-immune-system","conditions-reproductive-system","conditions-urinary-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-astringent-taste","sense-bitter","sense-cooling","sense-mucilaginous","western_action-antimicrobial","western_action-diaphoretic","western_action-diuretic","western_action-galactagogue","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20241207","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Goat\u2019s rue has a long tradition of use in the management of diabetes","latin_name":"Galega officinalis<\/span><\/i>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Fabaceae","herb_summary":"Used by herbalists since the Middle Ages for treating symptoms of diabetes, investigations into the blood-glucose lowering effects of goat\u2019s rue in the 1920s led to the development of metformin.","key_benefits":"Diabetes mellitus\r\nMetabolic syndrome\r\nFluid retention\r\nPoor lactation","how_does_it_feel":"Goat\u2019s rue\u2019s attractive, almost delicate appearance and lack of aroma belies both the unpleasant scent it gives off when crushed and its potent bitter taste which dries the mouth and colours the saliva greenish-yellow if chewed.<\/span>","hdif_image_1":15203,"hdif_image_2":15199,"hdif_image_3":15197,"hdif_video":"","sense":[31,18,786,28],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Alongside diet and lifestyle changes, goat\u2019s rue has been seen to show significant benefits to blood glucose regulation including increasing insulin sensitivity. Consequently, it may be used as part of a treatment plan for the management of diabetes although insulin-dependant diabetic individuals, or those taking other diabetic drugs such as metformin, would be strongly advised to only do so under the guidance of both their healthcare provider and an experienced herbal practitioner. It can also be used, on its own or in combination with other herbs, to increase milk flow in breast-feeding mothers. Its diuretic action means it can be used to reduce fluid retention (1,2,3).","into_the_heart_of":"Goat\u2019s rue is considered to be a drying and cooling herb. Its strength is in supporting the underlying processes of digestion, metabolism and elimination within the human body thus bringing excess or insufficiency into balance. As a diuretic, it helps to aid the elimination of toxins through the kidneys and reduce fluid retention.\r\n\r\nGoat\u2019s rue helps to increase the utilisation of glucose in fat and muscle cells, and reduces insulin resistance, thereby reducing blood sugar levels in the body. It helps to balance insulin levels, and supports both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics to regulate blood glucose levels. It is known to reduce appetite and can aid in weight loss and in the management of metabolic syndrome. It is these mechanisms that led to the discovery of metformin (medication prescribed for diabetes), which is derived from the active ingredient, guanidine (1,2,3).","tradtional_uses":"Culpeper (1616\u20131654) said that a bath made with goat\u2019s rue was \u201cvery refreshing to wash the feet of people tired with over walking\u201d.Parkinson (1567\u20131650) who is considered to be one of the great English herbalists and botanists as well as apothecary to King James I, recognised its potential antimicrobial action when he spoke of its benefits as \u201cpowerfull & effectuall against the plague or pestilence, or any infectious or pestilentious fevers or diseases, that breake forth into spots or markes, as the measells, purples & the small pocks...\u201d. Its use in treating the plague is presumed to have been the reason behind its German name of pestilenzkraut translating directly as \u2018pestilence herb\u2019.\r\n\r\nHowever, it is also recorded as having been indicated for conditions similar to those it is commonly used for today. Since mediaeval times it has been prescribed to manage the symptoms of diabetes such as frequent urination and intense thirst as well as being recognised to increase milk yield in nursing mothers (4).","what_practioners_say":"[caption id=\"attachment_15202\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"600\"]\"Goat's Goat's rue (Galega officinalis<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nGoat\u2019s rue was denied approval by the German Commission E for its use in the treatment of diabetes, as a diuretic or galactagogue due to a considered lack of evidence regarding its effectiveness. In reality, it is safely and effectively used by many herbal practitioners today, frequently alongside other herbs whilst optimising diet and lifestyle.\r\n

Digestive system<\/h3>\r\nGoats rue is used by practitioners to support both pancreatic function and the digestive system of patients with diabetes or those who are considered pre-diabetic. Its ability to lower blood glucose levels is attributed to a number of actions including decreasing the absorption of glucose from the gut, regulating its metabolism by the liver, increasing its utilisation in fat and muscle cells and decreasing insulin resistance so cells are able to metabolise glucose more efficiently. This allows for better blood glucose regulation, optimising the chance of this remaining within acceptable levels and may allow insulin-dependent diabetic patients to, under close medical supervision, reduce their insulin dosage. Whilst in the diabetic patient long-term high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) are associated with permanent damage to various parts of the body particularly the small blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and eyes it is also deemed to be detrimental in many other conditions including cardiovascular health, where they can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.\r\n\r\nIt is also valued for its beneficial effects on the pancreas, protecting the cells that produce insulin and may be useful when insufficient digestive enzymes result in digestive issues such as indigestion or constipation (1,2,3).\r\n

Immune system<\/h3>\r\nGoat\u2019s rue aids the immune system both as an antibacterial and diaphoretic herb. It is effective against certain types of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, commonly implicated in infections of the skin. In cases of illness that involve excess fever, the diaphoretic action of this herb promotes sweating to cool the body and reduce a temperature. Along with other herbs including fennel, fenugreek and milk-thistle, goat\u2019s rue may be useful in promoting lactation in breast-feeding mothers who are experiencing insufficient milk production. However, other factors including maternal perception of not producing enough milk, nutritional and hydration status and social situation should not be overlooked as they may significantly impact milk production and need addressing as an integral part of any treatment plan. Goat\u2019s rue may be used as a diuretic reducing fluid retention within the body by promoting elimination through the kidneys (1,2,3).","research":"[caption id=\"attachment_15201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"600\"]\"Goat's Goat's rue (Galega officinalis<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nResearch has shown goat\u2019s rue to have pronounced antidiabetic effects within the laboratory based in-vivo environment. Administration of a preparation derived from the leaves and stems of the plant was demonstrated to reduce levels of fasting blood glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, it is suggested that it has a protective effect on the insulin producing \u03b2 cells of the pancreas (5). These effects have been commonly attributed to the guanidine alkaloid constituents. However, studies of the phenolic compounds and microelements found within goat\u2019s rue suggest that these may also contribute to its beneficial effects in the management of blood glucose levels. Research specifically focused on the flavonoid content of the plant confirmed its ability to improve glycosidic metabolism. Microelements found to be present in goat\u2019s rue including copper, manganese and selenium were also all found to demonstrate significant benefits in the management of diabetes (6).\r\n\r\nLaboratory studies into potential anti-obesity effects of goat\u2019s rue reported weight loss, reduced blood glucose levels and decreased food consumption in pair-feeding studies using mice. Although the initial weight loss is attributable to a reduced food intake, it was discovered that changes in weight were independent of this and in time exceeded that of the control subjects (7).\r\n\r\nA study was carried out into the antibacterial properties of goat\u2019s rue against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria with the aim of investigating the claim that it increased post-surgical healing time of the skin. Although cold water extraction of the herb showed no antibacterial action, the 60% aqueous ethanolic solution significantly inhibited a number of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, a common pathogen implicated in infections of the skin and surgical wounds (8).","did_you_know":"The origins of the Latin name for goat\u2019s rue, Galega officinalis, <\/em>\u00a0is said to have come from the Greek \u2018gala\u2019, meaning milk, and \u2018ago\u2019 meaning to lead, hence \u2018to lead to milk\u2019 referring to the plant's usefulness as a fodder to increase milk flow in lactating domestic herds of cows, sheep or goats.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":15206},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Goat\u2019s rue is a hardy perennial plant growing to around a metre tall. The leaves are pinnate and have six to eight pairs of lance shaped vividly green leaves. The flowers, which occur between June and August vary from lilac and pinkish purple to white (13). ","common_names":"