Goat's Rue

(Galega officinalis L., Papilionaceae)

Also Called: French Lilac, Galega.

Description: Handsome per­ennial plant with hollow stem, 1 m (3ft) high.
Leaves, generally glabrous, with 11-17 elliptical or lanceolate leaflets 1-4cm (0.4­1.5in) long, each terminated in a mucron.
Inflorescence many­flowered with long peduncle.
Flowers about 1 cm (0.4in) long, light-blue or white.
Flowering: June-autumn.

Part Used: Dried flowering plant; rarely the seeds.

Habitat and Cultivation: A native of southern Europe and the Mediterranean regions.
Introduced in Britain, naturalised in waste places and moist fields.
Cultivated as a medicinal plant in Switzerland from seeds or root­cuttings planted at 50cm (20in) intervals.
The plants may be cropped for several years.

Constituents and Action: An alkaloid, galegine and other substances not as yet identified. The drug reduces blood sugar concentration and stimulates lactation; its action is inconstant.

Usage: As a tisane (2 table­spoonfuls in 0.5 litre (1 pt) of cold water, boil for 2-3 minutes and allow to stand) for diabetes, especially of the elderly; it has only a supporting action and the drug is not a powerful antidiabetic.
A pronounced dislike of the plant results from its long usage.
Sometimes used to stimulate lactation (action very doubtful).
Also used in veterinary medicine for this purpose.