Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is a plant that is native to the western United States, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The seeds of the plant can cause hallucinations.
Syrian rue seeds contain chemicals called beta-carbolines. These chemicals cause many different effects in the body, such as stimulant effects and those that are similar to certain medicines used to treat Alzheimer disease.
People use Syrian rue for osteoarthritis, cancer, menstrual pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It is also unsafe.
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