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Dietary supplement

Rue Flower Essence Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Flower Essence Services

Rue Flower Essence label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Rue Flower Essence against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Rue Flower Essence is a dietary supplement by Flower Essence Services 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 infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

This product contains one active ingredient: an infusion of rue (Ruta graveolens) at a 1 to 6,000 concentration. The inactive ingredients are water and brandy, which serve as the carrier and preservative for 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 effectiveness of rue for its traditional uses — including abortion, cancer, contraception, dyspepsia (indigestion), and insect repellency — has not been established in the data we hold. All of these uses are rated as having insufficient reliable evidence, meaning the research to back them up isn't there yet.

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.

Rue in food amounts is generally well tolerated, and the dried herb appears generally well tolerated in medicinal doses — though a thorough safety evaluation hasn't been done. Fresh rue, however, is generally considered unsafe.

The most common side effects from the dried herb are cramps, drowsiness, depression, dizziness, stomach irritation, and sleep disturbances. Rue can also trigger contact dermatitis and phototoxic skin reactions when applied to the skin.

Because rue has a history of being used to trigger miscarriage and can stimulate the uterus, it's advised against in pregnancy. Safety data for breastfeeding isn't on file, but because potentially toxic compounds may pass to the baby, it's advised against during lactation as well.

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.

Before starting this product, check whether you take any photosensitizing medications — drugs that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. The risk is Moderate severity.

Use the search tool on this page to run your exact medications through, because the interaction data spans a broad range of drug types.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you're interested in rue for any of its traditional uses, the evidence isn't established yet — we simply don't know if it works. More importantly, this product carries a Moderate interaction risk with photosensitizing drugs, and rue itself has a history of toxicity concerns and pregnancy risks.

Check your medications against our tool before considering it, and talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

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 Feb 26, 2014.

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 Flower Essence, straight from the product label.

Brand Flower Essence Services
Barcode (UPC) 782932113682
Net contents 1 fl. Oz.; 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 26, 2014
DSLD ID 30109
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic
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 Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services, 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:
4 Drop(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
4 Drop(s)
UPC/BARCODE
782932113682
IngredientAmount% DV
infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens0 NP--

Other ingredients: Water, Brandy

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Four drops, four times daily

Seals/Symbols

FES Quintessentials(TM)

DEMETER

Formulation

100% organic ingredients Certified by Stellar Certification Services, Inc.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Certified Biodynamic(R) by the Demeter Association, Inc.

General Statements

BEST BY 02/2021

Professional quality backed by over a quarter century of international use.

FDA Statement of Identity

herbal supplement

General

110217

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services label

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

Rue Flower Essence label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services

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

Serving size4 Drop(s) Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.

Infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens

Interacts with
335 drugs
0 NP per serving

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...

Infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Rue Flower Essence?

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

infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens 335

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Rue Flower Essence interact with 335 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Rue Flower Essence interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Rue Flower Essence 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.

infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens1 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
infusion (1:6000) of Ruta graveolens full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

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

Flower Essence Services

See all Flower Essence Services products
Phone Number
800-548-0075
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services: Common Questions

Does Rue Flower Essence by Flower Essence Services interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Rue Flower Essence 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 Flower Essence 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. Rue is rated as likely unsafe in pregnancy because it has traditionally been used to bring on miscarriage and can stimulate the uterus. It's also advised against during breastfeeding because potentially toxic compounds may pass to your baby. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about alternatives.
What side effects should I watch for?
The dried herb may cause cramps, drowsiness, depression, dizziness, stomach irritation, and sleep disturbances. If you apply it to your skin, you might get contact dermatitis or a phototoxic reaction (a severe sunburn-like response in sunlight). Fresh rue is considered unsafe and should be avoided.
Does rue actually work for digestive upset, contraception, or cancer?
The evidence isn't established in the data we hold. All of rue's traditional uses — including dyspepsia, contraception, cancer, and insect repellency — are rated as having insufficient reliable evidence, so we can't say whether it works for any of them.
What is rue, and why is it in a flower essence?
Rue (Ruta graveolens) is an herb with a long history in traditional medicine. This product is a dilute infusion of rue — essentially an herbal extract in water and brandy — used as a flower essence preparation.
Is this product safe to use?
Rue in the small amounts found in foods is well tolerated, and the dried herb appears generally well tolerated in medicinal doses. However, fresh rue is unsafe, and rue can be toxic in higher doses — the oil especially so. We don't have a thorough safety evaluation, and there's also that Moderate interaction concern with photosensitizing drugs.

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

Not sure if Rue Flower Essence is safe with your meds?

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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 Flower Essence label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Rue Flower Essence’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Rue

Interacts with 335 drugs

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 its health uses. It can be toxic in large...

Read the full Rue monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Rue Flower Essence'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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