Known in the old Herbals as Herba ruta caprariae, Galega officinalis was considered medicinally important in the treatment of plague, fevers and infectious diseases but is now considered too toxic for human use.

Galega orientalis, commonly known as Goat's Rue is an ancient ornamental plant that, throughout history has been extensively cultivated as a forage crop, a bee plant, as a green manure, a medicinal herb and as an ornamental.