Peganum harmala or wild rue originally comes from Syria and the Middle East, but has gradually become domesticated in other parts of the world (North America, East Asia).

In traditional folk medicine it is considered a recognized panacea, the plant is commonly used in some parts of the world as an aphrodisiac, for gynecological problems (it mitigates menstrual problems, facilitates childbirth), as well as for stomach and heart diseases, but also as a incense expelling “evil spirits” or in asthmatic problems. It can also be added to incenses to enhance the effect. Red natural dye can also be prepared from the plant.

Some authors and researchers believe that the seeds of the peganum harmala were used in some occult traditions as a narcotic, such as in Mithra’s cult in the Roman Empire in antiquity. In North America, Peganum harmala was probably used to prepare a sacred drink, usually in conjunction with other plants such as Mimosa hostilis or Desmanthus illinoensis, it is also possible to find mentions of the combination with “magic mushrooms”. For such ceremonial use is traditionally recommended as a dosage of 2 to 5 grams per person. Users experience “visionary hallucinations” but also nausea, sweating and vomiting. The drink prepared with the peganum harmala is sometimes called “North American ayahuasca”, but it is not botanically related to the Amazon vine Banisteriopsis caapi.

Peganum harmala contains alkaloids such as harmine, harmalin and tetaphydroharmine.