RHUBARB DA HUANG RHEUM PALMATUM

RHUBARB, DA HUANG (Rheum palmatum L.) +

Apparently used interchangeably with R. officinale Baill. (e.g., under EFS and MAD), but DAA and FEL entries accrued to R. officinale Baill.

Activities (Rhubarb) :
Analgesic (1; APA; KEB); Antiaggregant (f; SKJ); Antialzheimeran (1; COX; FNF); Antiangiogenic (1; BGB; FNF); Antibacterial (1; FAY; KEB); Anticancer (1; BGB; FNF); Antiarthritic (1; COX; FNF); Antidiarrheal (1; CAN); Aperient (f; PNC); Antiinflammatory (1; AKT; APA; KEB; PNC); Antileukemic (1; KEB); Antimutagenic (1; KEB); Antiprostaglandin (1; KEB); Antipyretic (1; KEB); Antisarcomic (1; KEB); Antiseptic (1; CRC; PNC); Antispasmodic (1; PNC); Antithromboxane (1; KEB); Antitoxic (1; KEB); Antitumor (1; KEB); Antiuremic (f; KEB); Antiviral (1; KEB); Aperient (1; CRC; WHO); Aperitif (f; PH2); Astringent (1; CRC; EFS; FAY; PNC; WHO); Bitter (1; KEB); Cholagogue (1; APA; PHR; MAD); Choleretic (1; FAY; PNC); Cholinergic (1; PNC); Cytotoxic (1; BGB; FNF); Depurative (f; APA; EFS; PHR); Estrogenic (f; SHT); Fungicide (1; KEB); Hemostat (1; APA; KEB); Hydragogue (1; PH2); Hypocholesterolemic (1; KEB); Hypotensive (1; CRC); Laxative (1; APA; CAN; CRC; FAY; PH2; PNC; SKY); Mutagenic (1; KEB); Parasiticide (1; KEB); Peristaltic (1; PH2; PNC); Stomachic (f; CRC; EFS; FAY; MAD; PNC); Tonic (f; FEL; PNC); Trichomonicide (1; KEB); Vulnerary (1; APA).

Indications (Rhubarb) :
Aggressiveness (1; KEB); Alcoholism (f; AKT); Alzheimer’s (1; COX; FNF); Amenorrhea (f; FAY; PH2; PNC); Anorexia (f; PH2); Appendicitis (f; FAY); Arthrosis (1; COX; FNF); Asthma (f; AKT); Bacteria (1; AKT; EFS; FAY; KEB); Bleeding (1; AKT; APA; KEB; MAD); Burn (f; CRC; DAA; FAY; PH2; PNC); Cancer (1; APA; BGB; COX; DAA; FNF; KEB); Cancer, bladder (f; JLH); Cancer, breast (1; CRC; HHB); Cancer, cervix (f; JLH); Cancer, kidney (f; JLH); Cancer, larynx (f; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Carbuncle (f; FAY; PNC); Catarrh (f; PH2); Cholecystosis (1; KEB; MAD); Cholera (f; FEL; MAD); Cirrhosis (f; AKT); Cold (f; MAD); Colic (f; CRC); Conjunctivosis (f; FAY); Constipation (2; APA; CAN; CRC; FAY; KOM; PH2; PNC; SHT; SKY; WHO); Cough (f; MAD); Cramp (1; MAD; PNC); Delirium (f; FAY; FEL; PH2); Dermatosis (f; FAY; PH2); Diarrhea (1; CAN; CRC; PH2; SHT); Dropsy (f; CRC; MAD); Dysentery (2; AKT; EFS; FAY; KEB; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; DAA; MAD); Dyspepsia (f; DAA; SHT); Dysuria (f; DAA); Eclampsia (1; APA); Edema (f; FAY; PH2); Endometriosis (2; APA; KEB); Enterosis (2; FAY; KEB; PH2; PNC); Epistaxis (f; FAY); Fever (1; APA; CRC; DAA; KEB; MAD); Flu (1; KEB); Fungus (1; KEB); Gallstone (f; AKT); Gas (1; FAY); Gastrosis (1; KEB; MAD; PHR; PH2; SHT); Gastrorrhagia (f; APA); Gingivosis (1; FAY; KEB); Glossosis (f; FAY); Gout (f; MAD); Headache (f; APA; CRC; FAY); Hematemesis (f; FAY); Hemophilia (1; KEB); Hemorrhoid (1; APA; FEL); Hepatosis (2; AKT; FAY; KEB; MAD); Herpes (1; FAY; KEB); High Blood Pressure (2; CRC; APA; KEB); High Cholesterol (2; KEB); High Triglycerides (2; KEB); Hyperlipidemia (1; KEB); Hypotension (f; WHO); Infection (1; CRC; FAY; KEB); Inflammation (1; AKT; APA; COX; FNF; KEB; PNC); Irritability (1; KEB); Jaundice (1; DAA; FAY; KEB; MAD; PNC); Leukemia (1; CRC; KEB); Malaria (f; CRC; DAA); Mycosis (1; KEB); Nephrosis (1; AKT; APA; KEB); Neurasthenia (f; AKT); Obesity (1; AKT; APA; PHR); Odontosis (f; PH2); Pain (1; APA; FAY; KEB; PH2); Pancreatosis (1; KEB); Parasite (1; KEB); Pregnancy (f; APA); Rheumatism (f; MAD); Shingles (f; FAY); Sore (1; APA; CRC; DAA; FAY); Splenosis (f; MAD); Staphylococcus (f; FAY); Stomachache (f; APA); Stomatosis (1; FAY; FEL; KEB); Stone (f; AKT); Streptococcus (f; FAY); Swelling (f; FAY); Tenesmus (f; PH2); Toothache (f; APA; CRC; FAY); Trichomonas (1; AKT); Tumor (1; KEB); Ulcer (1; KEB); Uremia (1; AKT); Vaginosis (1; AKT; KEB); Virus (1; KEB); Water Retention (f; MAD); Worm (f; MAD); Wound (f; APA).

Dosages (Rhubarb) :
0.5–1.5 g dry plant (WHO); 0.2–1.0 g root (CAN); 0.1–4 g root (SHT); 0.12–4.8 g root (APA); 1–5 g root (AHP); 3–12 g root (FAY); 3–12 g root/day (APA; FAY); 0.1–0.3 g root as stomachic, 1–2 g as laxative (MAD); 1–2 g root as laxative, 0.1–0.2 g as astringent and stomachic (PHR; PH2); 1–6 g powdered root (AKT); 0.1–0.2 g powdered root/cup 1–2 ×/day (APA); 0.1–1 tsp (0.25–2.5 g) powdered root/cup water 1–2 ×/day (APA); 1–6 g dry root/day or 2–12 ml fluid extract (1:2) (KEB); 120–500 mg dry root extract (PNC); up to 15 ml root tincture (PNC); up to 15 ml tincture/day (APA); 20–30 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives/day calculated as rhein (KOM); 10–30 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives at bedtime (WHO).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Rhubarb) :
Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Beware of anthraquinones, oxalates, and tannins (AHP). Commission E reports for bark, contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of anthranoid laxatives (AEH). CAN cautions that the anthraquinones are purgative and irritate the GI tract. Because of the anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation (CAN). Anthraquinones may be secreted into breast milk. Also contraindicated in arthrosis, hemorrhoids, and nephropathy (CAN), intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown causes, any enterosis (appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, IBS), hemorrhoids, nephropathy, menstruation (AHP), and urethrosis (CAN). Do not use more than 8–10 days (AHP). Not for use in cases of diarrhea or abdominal pain. Discontinue use if diarrhea or watery stools occur. Consult a health care provider in cases of pregnancy or lactation. Not for long-term use or overdosage (PHP; CAN). Rhubarb leaves, high in oxalic acid, should not be eaten (CAN). One case of anaphylaxis following ingestion reported (CAN). Contains 4–11% stilbene derivatives, which pose such risks that the herb “can no longer be recommended” (SHT). While widely used, anthranoidcontaining laxatives can be habit-forming; some contain compounds suspected of being cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and even tumorigenic. Epidemiological studies in Germany reveal that abusers of anthranoid laxatives have a three times higher rate of colon carcinoma (AEH). At low doses, the tannins in rhubarb act as antidiarrheal; at high doses, the laxative anthraquinones kick in (CAN). As the major source of the major COX-2 inhibitor ([+]-catechin), this might be viewed by enthusiasts as another herbal miracle aspirin (COX).