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Da-huang | | Name : | Da-huang | | Synonyms : | Amla-vetasa(Sanskrit name)
Chineserhubarb
Da-huang(Chinese name)
Ta-huang(Chinese name)
Turkeyrhubarb
| | Parts Used : | Root | | Habitat : | Cultivated outside its native Tibet and China mainly for ornamentaland medicinal purposes. | | Description : | This species of rhubarb is a perennial herb which resembles the commongarden rhubarb; the conical rootstock, which is fleshy and yellowinside, produces large, cordate, or almost orbicular, 7-lobed leaveson thick petioles that are from 12-18 inches long. A hollow flowerstem, 5-10 feet high, also grows from the rootstock and is toppedby a leafy panicle of greenish or whitish flowers. | | Constituents : | Flavone, gallic acid, glucogallin, palmidine, pectin, phytosterol,rutin, starch, and tannins, anthroquinones, chrysophanol, physcion,sennidine, rheidine, tetrarin, catechin, pectin, (oxalic acid in theleaves)
Appetizer, alterative, astringent, antipyretic, aperient, purgative,tonic, hemostatic, anthelmintic, vulnerary | | Uses : | This is not the garden variety of rhubarb (R. rhabarbarum). The rootstockhas a tendency to be both laxative and astringent, depending on theamount used.
Helps disorders of the colon,spleen, and liver. Relieves headache,diarrhea, dysentery,in larger doses for constipation,jaundice, liver problems,skin inflammations,and hemorrhoids. Eliminatesworms. Promotes healing of duodenalulcers. Enhances gallbladderfunction. Antibiotic properties. In small doses, a cold extract ofthe rootstock used to stimulateappetite. | | Dosage : | Cold extract: soak the rootstock in cold water for 8-10 hours.For a laxative, take 1 tbsp. 2-3 times a day. For an appetizer, take1 tsp. 2-3 times a day, shortly before meals.
Rootstock: for a laxative, take 1 tsp. powdered or choppedrootstock in 1/2 cup water. As an astringent for diarrhea, take 1/4tsp. rootstock in 1/2 cup water. These are doses for one day. | | Safety : | The leaf blades (although not the stalks) of rhubarb contain enoughoxalic acid to cause poisoning. Fatalities have been reported whenusing the leaves. Prolonged use is not advisable, rhubarb aggravatesany tendency toward chronic constipation. Pregnant women and nursingmothers are cautioned against using rhubarb. Also avoid if gout orarthritis is a problem. Use with caution on hemorrhoids. | | Myths : | Originating from northwest China and Tibet, this herb has been inuse for over 2000 years. Gradually it spread through India, reachingEurope during the Renaissance, then into Asia Minor and Turkey. Itwas a favorite remedy with early Persian and Arabian physicians.
The healthy and hardy pioneer families dared to venture into theunknown wilderness on their drive westward in America. They couldtake only the necessities of life, such as guns, axes, farm tools,seeds, and other bare essentials on this hazardous journey. Recordstell us that among the bare essentials the pioneer women includeda piece of rhubarb root to assure themselves and their families ofthis medicinal treatment. Rhubarb came a long way in 4600 years ofhistory from its native home in western China. | | Sold : | Available in powdered root or as a tincture |
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