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Dietary supplement

Rue Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Rue is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for menstrual cramps, digestive upset, muscle spasms and pain.Based on those ingredients, 335 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Rue Herb Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Rue by Hawaii Pharm

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Hawaii Pharm's Rue contains one active ingredient: Rue Herb Extract in dried form. The product also includes alcohol, water, and glycerin as inactive ingredients to deliver the extract.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Rue product and its label doesn't state a use — see Rue's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The data we hold shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate rue for any of its traditional uses — abortion, cancer prevention, contraception, indigestion, or insect repellent. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, just that the science isn't established in our records.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Rue

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

The dried herb form seems to be generally well tolerated at medicinal doses, though a full safety review hasn't been done. Fresh rue, on the other hand, is considered unsafe.

In medicinal amounts, the dried herb may cause cramps, drowsiness, depression, dizziness, stomach upset, and sleep trouble. High doses can trigger respiratory distress, and rue can stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage.

Because rue has been traditionally used to bring on menstruation or abortion, it should be avoided in pregnancy — the safety data advises against it. The product is also not safe during breastfeeding, as potentially toxic compounds may pass to the baby.

Rue is toxic in higher doses, and the oil form is especially risky.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Rue

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Rue.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 335 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your pharmacist before using this product if you take photosensitizing drugs (those that increase sun sensitivity) — rue can raise your risk of severe phototoxic reactions (Moderate severity). No other medication interactions are documented for the ingredient we checked.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Rue is a traditional herb with a real phototoxicity risk if you're on certain medications. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or take any drug that warns about sun sensitivity, talk to your pharmacist before using it.

The dried herb in food amounts is generally tolerated, but medicinal doses carry real side-effect risks.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 24, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Rue, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 840253645258
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 24, 2024
DSLD ID 301818
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Rue by Hawaii Pharm, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
840253645258
IngredientAmount% DV
Rue Herb Extract, Dry983 mg--

Other ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Shake well before using. For adults add about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to some juice or water, up to 4 times a day.

Precautions

Warning: We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

May affect the ability to drive and operate machinery. May have contraindications, can cause side effects and adverse reactions. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children!

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Seals/Symbols

cGMP Made in compliance with cGMP 21 CFR 111 in an FDA registered and inspected facility.

Organic Alcohol Based USA Made in United States of America

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Scan this QR-code to get 15% discount on your next purchase. Limited time deal.

Formula

Ruta graveolens

Organic Alcohol Based

Formulation

Only natural ingredients Purity is laboratory tested and verified

All the raw materials are gluten-free by their nature No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Not tested on animals

Organic Alcohol Based

Made in USA, Hawaii

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

See for yourself

Rue by Hawaii Pharm label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Rue by Hawaii Pharm

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Rue Herb Extract, Dry

Interacts with
335 drugs
983 mg per serving Form: Ruta graveolens Herb Extract, Dry

Rue is a strong-smelling herb from southern Europe with a long history in folk medicine, but there is very little reliable human research to support i...

Rue Herb Extract, Dry monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Rue by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Rue?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
335Drugs
335 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Rue with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Rue Herb Extract, Dry1 drug type · 335 drugs

Photosensitizing Drugs

Theoretically, rue might increase the risk for phototoxicity when used with photosensitizing drugs.
Rue contains photosensitizing furanocoumarins and psoralens and has been associated with multiple reports of phototoxic reactions. There is also one case report of an increased phototoxic response to psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy associated with ingestion of rue.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Rue, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
Street Address
510 Sumner St. Ste. 613
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96817
Phone Number
888-854-2924
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Rue by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Rue by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Rue has a known interaction with 335 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Rue contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Rue if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against rue in pregnancy because it can stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage, and it's also unsafe during breastfeeding because potentially toxic compounds may pass to the baby. Talk to your obstetrician or pharmacist about any herbal questions.
What side effects might I get from the dried herb?
At medicinal doses, the dried herb may cause cramps, drowsiness, depression, dizziness, stomach upset, and sleep disturbances. A full safety review hasn't been completed, so other effects are possible. Fresh rue is considered unsafe and should be avoided.
Does rue actually work for what it's traditionally used for?
The evidence we have isn't strong enough to say. Rue has been used traditionally for abortion, cancer, birth control, indigestion, and insect repellent, but the science doesn't yet establish whether it's effective for any of those.
Why is rue risky in the sun if I take photosensitizing medications?
Rue contains compounds called furanocoumarins and psoralens that make your skin more sun-sensitive. When combined with medications that do the same thing, your risk of severe sunburn-like reactions goes up significantly. If you take a photosensitizing drug, check with your pharmacist before starting rue.
Is the dried herb safer than fresh rue?
Yes. The dried herb is generally well tolerated at medicinal doses, while fresh rue is considered unsafe and should be avoided. Still, the dried form can cause side effects like cramps and dizziness, and high doses are toxic.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Rue is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Rue label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Rue's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 8 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Rue 8 references
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  5. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  6. Puig L. Pharmacodynamic interaction with phototoxic plants during PUVA therapy. Br J Dermatol 1997;136:973-4. PubMed
  7. Radotra I, Gardiner S, Barnes D. A phytophototoxic injury at a burns unit: the ungraceful after-effects of the "common rue" plant. J Burn Care Res. 2018;39(6):1064-6. PubMed
  8. Avallone G, Mastorino L, Agostini A, et al. Ruta graveolens phytophotodermatitis. Dermatol Online J 2021;27(7). PubMed

See these in context on the Rue monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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