Rhubarb
Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
Brief Background:
Chinese herbalists have relied on rhubarb rhizomes and roots for thousands of years. The rhizomes and roots contain powerful anthraquinones and tannins that act as stimulant laxatives and astringents, respectively. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is also used to treat gastric ulcers, chronic renal failure, and pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Expert Opinion and Historic Precedent:
Herbalists have recommended rhubarb as a laxative, diuretic, and to treat kidney stones, gout, and liver diseases. Externally, it is recommended to heal skin sores and scabs. Although larger doses are used as a laxative, smaller doses are used to treat dysenteric diarrhea. It is also a component of spring tonics or blood cleansing cures (e.g., Swedish bitters) in Europe.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), rhubarb is used as an ulcer remedy, and it is considered a bitter, cold, dry herb used to “clear heat” from the liver, stomach and blood. It is also used for de-worming, cancer, fever, upper intestinal bleeding (ulcers), toothaches, and headache. Chinese rhubarb is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and was mentioned in the Chinese herbal Pen-King (ca. 2700, B.C).
The roots of medicinal rhubarb have been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for 5,000 years, gradually spreading to India, Russia, Europe, and North America. Medicinal rhubarb arrived in Europe via Turkey, hence the common name, Turkey rhubarb. It is also one of the four major ingredients in the herbal cancer remedy, Essiac®.
