Goat's Rue is a common name given to both Galega officinalis and Tephrosia virginiana, herbs which are entirely different species.

A member of the Fabaceae or Pea family, genus Goat's Rue is also known as Devil's Shoestring because of the long and tough taproot.

• Goat Rue is one of the most potent herbs to have been used to increase breast milk. Because of this, Goat Rue was at one time fed to goats to increase milk production. The leaves are also said to stimulate development of mammary tissue and to increase breast size in non-lactating women.

• Goat's Rue root contains "rotenone", a natural insecticide effective especially against flying insects, but was also used by Native Americans to poison fish!

• Goat Rue Tea was made from goat rue roots and used by Native Americans as a medicinal tea said to make children muscular and strong. As a cold tea, Goat Rue Tea was served as an aphrodisiac and to those suffering from male impotency. Goat Rue Tea was also served as a medicinal tea used in the treatment of rheumatism, bladder problems, fever, hard coughs, impotency, to expel intestinal worms and irregular menstruation.

Description of Goat's Rue (Tephrosia virginiana):

Genus: Tephrosia Pers.

Species: Tephrosia virginiana (L.) Pers.

• Goat's Rue can be found in the Eastern North America growing wild in many varied surroundings, for example in dry sandy woods, open fields, and along the roadsides.

• Goat Rue grows to be only 1 to 2 ft. tall. Goat's Rue is a distinctively silvery plant due to the soft white hairs which cover the stems and the 8 to 15 pairs of opposing 2 inch-long leaves topped with a single leaf at the end of the stem.

• Goat Rue blooms from May through August with up to 200, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long flowers in clusters growing at the top. The blooms are yellow at the top and a light purple at the bottom of the flower. Many bees regularly visit the flower drawn by their faint but distinctive fragrance.

 

Growing Goat Rue (Tephrosia virginiana):

• Goat's Rue is generally an easy plant to grow. It is a valuable soil builder in that it is a legume which draws nitrogen from the atmosphere and interacts with soil bacteria to fix the (N) Nitrogen to the surrounding soil.

• Goat Rue needs a well-drained, light to medium soil that is deep enough to accommodate the log taproot. 

• Goat's Rue needs direct sunlight to thrive.

Goat rue (Galega officinalis) commonly known as the professor weed:

Genus: Galega L. Species: Galega officinalis L.

Another member of the pea family (fabaceae), this Goats Rue Herb is a perennial herb said to originate in parts of Asia, Eastern Russia, Middle East and Europe.

• Goat Rue (Galega officinalis) is also currently on the United States Federal list of noxious weeds and is banned to import into the country. On a state level 13 states list Galega officinalis at minimum, a "plant pest" and at maximum a "Prohibited noxious weed".

• The long flower stalk produces many light purple to pink flowers. Goat Rue seedpods, which form in autumn, contain several seeds the shape of which are reminiscent of kidney beans.

Goat's Rue (Galega officinalis)

Goat Rue Description: Goat’s Rue Herb grows up to 5 feet tall with branching stems and smaller oval, opposite leaves that are about two inches long. The long flower stalk produces many light purple to pink flowers. Goat Rue seedpods, which form in autumn, contain several seeds the shape of which are reminiscent of kidney beans.

Attributed Benefits of Goat's rue tea: (either species)

• Goat's rue tea benefits have been recognized throughout the centuries by different civilizations. The leaves stimulate development of mammary tissue. Goat Rue is one of the most potent herbs to increase breast milk. Goat’s Rue is also used to increase breast size in non-lactating women. The Native Americans utilized the herb as an aphrodisiac and to help with male impotence. Even the roots of the goat's rue plant were used in teas and given to children as it was believed that it would make them grow strong and muscular.

Goat's Rue Tea is made like most herbal teas. You can use not only the goat rue leaf but all of the above-ground parts of the goat's rue plant along with the leaf. To make goat's rue teabags, simply put 1 teaspoon of the upper plant parts and goat rue leaves into any one of the many empty teabags available in todays market.

Place the Goat's rue teabag in a cup of freshly boiled water and steep for 15 minutes. Drink the Goat's Rue tea twice a day as a supplement.

The Goat's Rue constituents are: Galegine, Saponins, Tannins, Bitters, Glycosides, Alkaloids and Chromium.

• Goat's Rue tea may help in the treatment of rheumatism.

• Goat Rue tea is thought to help lower blood sugar and may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes.

• Goat's Rue tea may help in the treatment of certain bladder problems.

• Goat Rue tea may help fight coughs and fever.

• Goat's Rue tea may help in the treatment of irregular menstruations.

• Goat Rue tea may help facilitate the proper flow of breast milk.

• Goat's Rue tea has been traditionally used as treatment for snakebites and intestinal parasites.

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