Rhabarbari, Rhubarb, Da Huang 大黄

Rha Barbarum, Raved Sceni, Turkey Rhubarb
Da Huang: ‘Big Yellow’ (TCM)
Amla-Vetasa or Amla Parni (Ayurveda)
Chutsu (Tibet)
Picture Picture
Picture Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Picture Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586

Picture Two forms of Rhubarb
Botanische wandplaten, (1904–1914)
Picture Wild-crafted Rhubarb: whole (left) and sliced (right)
(Chengdu, 2016, photo by Adam)

Picture Large slices of Wild Rhubarb (Adam, 2016)

Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Rheum palmatum, R. officinale

Parts used:


Root (Rhizome)

Temperature & Taste:


Cold, dry. Bitter.

Classifications:


2A APERIENT.    2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD.    2F. PURIFYING    2G. CLEANSING.    2O. ASTRINGENT.    2P. HEMOSTATICS
2S. STRENGTHENING
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3M. ARTHRITIC.    3Q. ANTHELMINTIC
4a. CEPHALIC.    4e. STOMACHIC.    4g. HEPATIC

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Purges Accumulations, Promotes Stool (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
–purges Bile, stagnant food, congested Blood, and Ama (toxic residues of digestion).
-heat and obstruction of the Stomach, Liver and Bowels.
-Constipation and abdominal fullness with heat symptoms

2. Clears Heat and Toxin (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-clears Heat and Toxin from the Stomach, Bowels, Liver and Blood
-Chronic Fever; Influenza; acute excess Heat and Toxin including Acute Sore Throat, Tonsillitis

3. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-Blood stagnation after Trauma, Bruising, Fractures
-Amenorrhea and Dysmenorrhea
-“Most useful in cases of Injuries caused by Falls and Beating”. (Avicenna)

4. Guides Downward:
-Wind-Heat Headache, Dizziness, Vertigo, Hypertension
-sensation of Qi rising in the body; excess in the upper body

5. Benefits the Stomach and Digestion:
-various old authors recommended small doses as a strengthening tonic. (Haller, Lexicon, 1755)
-small doses are used to improve digestion, resist fermentation and increase gastric acid
-Childhood Nutritional Impairment; chronic digestive weakness in infants, including that caused by Worms

6. Clears Heat, Opens the Lungs:
-Cough, Breathless, Asthma coming from Heat
-Pleurisy, inflammation of the Lungs; Spitting of Blood. (Dioscordies)
-“It is useful in Asthma and Hemoptysis”. (Avicenna)

7. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-charred Rhubarb has been used in TCM and the West to stop bleeding, especially of the gastrointestinal tract
-Hemoptysis. (Dioscordies)
-bleeding from the bowels with constipation; Dysentery with Blood

8. Kills Worms:
-Worms in children (Matthiolus)

9. Externally:
-applied to Boils, Burns, Carbuncles, Herpes and various skin problems with heat and toxin. (wash, powder, or ointment)
-the powder mixed with vinegar was applied to Eczema, Ringworm, Bruises and Burns.
–Dioscorides said ‘it dissipates all inveterate inflammations being applied with water’.
-applied with Wine to Masses, Lumps, Swellings and Tumors
-removes Freckles, Naevus, Moles, and Spots, powdered and mixed with vinegar (Dioscorides, Unani)
-powder is applied to stop Bleeding
-a piece of the root chewed each morning was recommended to preserve health (Matthiolus)

Dose:


Powder: 200mg–4 grams
Brief Decoction: 2–9 grams

Correctives:


 … available in PRO version

Preparation:


… available in PRO version

Main Combinations:


Madder & Rhubarb

1. Rhubarb combines well with Madder to clear Heat and Toxin, as well as for Blood stagnation. Together, they cleanse the Blood, clear Bruising and open obstructions. They have been combined in a number of formulas in both East and West.
2. Chronic illness, Cachexia, Jaundice; obstructions of the Liver or Spleen, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
3. Jaundice in Children, Rhubarb   … available in PRO version
4. As a Cholagogue, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
5. Liver diseases, and Spitting of Blood from Heat, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
6. Hepatitis and Uterus pain from Heat and obstruction, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
7. To purge various humors from all parts of the body, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
8. Obstructed Urine, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
9. Ascites, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
10. Hematuria, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
11. Diarrhea, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
12. Dysentery, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
13. Laxative, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
14. Constipation with Cold, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
15. Constipation from dryness, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
16. Constipation from excess Heat, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
17. Gout and Arthritis from Heat and Damp, Rhubarb with  … available in PRO version
18. Lung Ulcer, Rhubarb … available in PRO version
19. Internal Bruising, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version
20. Topically for burns, Rhubarb with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb (Nicholas)
Powder of Rhubarb (Fuchs)
Powder of Chebula and Rhubarb (Philon)
Powder of Three Solutives (Augustine Pharmacopoeia)
Bruise Powder (Mesue)
Troches of Rhubarb (Mesue)
Troches of Rhubarb Greater
Troches of Rhubarb Lesser (Unani)
Electuary of Rhubarb (Zenon)
Electuary of Rhubarb (Unani)
Electuary for Internal Bruising
Pills of Rhubarb (Mesue)
Pills of Rhubarb (Greater) (Pil. de Raved Sceni) (Mesue)
Pills of Rhubarb and Agaric (Mesue)
Pills to Purge Bile and Phlegm (1) (Mesue)
Da Cheng Qi Tang

Picture

Cautions:


1. Not used in Pregnancy (small doses have been given)
2. Not used in marked weakness (unless well corrected)

Main Preparations used:


Candied Rhubarb, Extract of Rhubarb
Picture Rhubarb as exported 100 years ago. Wooden case with
yellow tissue paper lining a hermetically sealed inner tin.
Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919