Ophelia says to Queen Gertrude "There's rue for you, and here's some for me- we may call it herb of grace o' Sundays. Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference."

The herb rue (ruta graveolens, aka Herb-of-Grace) is a powerful plant that was often used for abortions and contraceptives.

It's generic Greek name means, "to set free";- against illnesses.

Nicknamed "herb of grace" and "herb of Repentance"; ~herbaladviser.com

  Historical background: Rue has been used to ward off the Black Death.
It was used as a disinfectant by judges at court against fevers and diseases that a prisoner may have from pests inside a jail cell.
Reputed to have defensive magical properties against spells.

Usual Dosage: For tea or medicinal purposes: I teaspoon boiled in ¼ liter water. Daily dose should not exceed 1.0 gm.

  Side effects:
Over dosage can lead to contact dermatitis, sleep disorders, vertigo, delirium, fainting, tremor, spasm, liver damage, kidney damage, depression, vomiting, epigastric pain, fatal outcome especially for pregnant women attempting abortion, low pulse, clammy skin, photosensitivity.

Using rue for abortion. The idea is that you poison yourself to the point where your body decides it's too sick to support the growing embryo or fetus, and rejects it. If you miscalculate in one direction, continued pregnancy; in the other direction, personal death.

My theory: Miscalculated dosage.
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