Ruta (peegam) is a much revered herb in our region.
The villagers use it as a spice when they pickle olives,
mainly black olives.
It is being used as a herb for the treatment of otitis media
(inflammation of the middle ear) in babies, after it has been
extraxted in fresh olive oil, and many more medicinal uses.
It has a very pungent smell and the local villagers
usually place the herb in front of their main door in
order to drive away the demons...