Goat's rue

The plant according to tradition demonstrates a favourable action on milk secretion, most likely improving the circulatory state of the mammary gland and hence its tropism. For this reason it falls within the formulation of herbal teas and galenicals preparations to promote milk secretion. The original name itself "galega" recalls the action of the plant: gala = milk, ago = to bring on. Goat's rue contains, especially in its seeds (0.5%), a principle, galegine, a guanidine derivative with hypoglycaemic properties. Galegine acts in the same way as synthetic guanidine derivatives and has the same side effects as diguanides but with the advantage of better tolerability. The hypoglycaemic action is, however, inconsistent, since the activity of the phytocomplex varies with the change of the chemical and pharmacological composition of the plant and its different growing periods. Goat's rue was included, in the past, among edible plants: however, there were reports of poisoning in cattle (coughing, watery eyes, breathing difficulty and death by asphyxiation).