Hermal, also known as `wild rue` or `Syrian rue`, is a thicket-like herb, with leaves separated into several tapered sections. It has white single flowers, capsular, globular fruits and brownish seeds in an assortment of shapes. The dried seeds of the plant make up the drug. The trade name is based on the local Indian name of the herb.

The seeds contain four alkaloids - harmine, harmaline, harmolol and peganine. The flowers and stems produce an alkaloid peganine, identified with peganine.

Methods of usage
Hermal is useful for chronic instances like stimulating the central nervous system, remedying asthma, expelling tapeworm, regulating menstrual flow.

Healing Power and Medicinal Properties of hermal
The drug energises the motor tracts of cerebrum and the central nervous system. In aboriginal medicine, the herb is regarded of immense use in reinstating the perturbed nutritional process, in addition to acting a steriliser and aphrodisiac. Studies have corroborated the germicidal action of the drug.

Fevers cured by hermal
Hermal is advantageous in the treatment of periodical diminishing and irregular fevers. It is useful in persistent malaria, but is not so effective in severe instances. The seeds are given both as an infusion, decoction or in pulverised form.

Asthma cured by hermal
The drug comes to vast assistance in asthma. The powder of the seeds administered in dosages of 2 to 8 grams renders alleviation.

Tapeworm eradicated by hermal
Hermal seeds are efficient in remedying tapeworm invasion. The alkaloid hermaline has been discovered to possess anthelmintic action. The pulverisation of its seeds should be administered for ejecting worms. The herb by itself possesses sedative properties and can be utilised to hasten profound sleep in instances of insomnia.

Menstrual Disorders remedied by hermal
The herb is advantageous in aching and problematic menstruation and for regularising the menstrual periods. A decoction of the seeds is administered in 15 to 30 ml dosages.

Problem of Breast Milk Secretion cured by hermal
Hermal seeds are gatactogogue, i.e., a driving force which invigorates the secretion of breast milk or increases milk flow in lactating mothers.

Laryngitis healed by hermal
The drug is beneficial in the treatment of laryngitis, i.e., swelling of the larynx. A decoction of the seeds is of immense use as a gargle.

Head Lice cured by hermal
Hermal is useful in wiping out head lice. A paste of the roots prepared with mustard oil should be massaged externally.

Precautions - The drug should be used only in ordained dosages. In higher dosages, it might testify lethal and give rise to terrible depressant action on the nervous system.