Scientific name
Rheum palmatum, Rheum officinale
Family
Polygonaceae
Origin
China and East Asia
Synonyms
Rhubarb
Used Parts
Drug consisting of decorticated roots and dried rhizome (Official Pharmacopoeia)
Chemical constituents
- Anthraquinone glucosides;
- Polyphenols;
- Tannins (ratannino);
- Crysophane acid;
- Cathartic acid;
- Emodin.
Rhubarb in Herbal Medicine: Properties of Rhubarb
Administered in small doses, rhubarb acts as a bitter digestive. At higher doses, however, rhubarb acts as a laxative; this is why it is used in chronic constipation with great advantages. Among medicinal plants containing anthraquinone glycosides, rhubarb is the best tolerated, thanks to the presence of polyphenols.
Rhubarb also has cholagogic activity and is therefore indicated for the treatment of chronic liver diseases.
Biological activity
Rhubarb is a plant successfully used in the treatment of constipation (a use that has been officially approved).
To be more precise, when taken in small doses, rhubarb exerts a digestive action, thanks to the stomachic action it is endowed with, therefore, thanks to the increased secretion of gastric juices that it is able to cause. If, on the other hand, it is taken at higher doses, rhubarb acts on the intestine, inhibiting the absorption of water and electrolytes and thus increasing the volume of intestinal contents. This increase in volume favors intestinal peristalsis with a consequent laxative effect.
More in detail, the laxative activity is due to the anthraquinone glycosides contained in the plant.
Rhubarb against constipation
As mentioned, thanks to the marked laxative action exerted by the anthraquinone derivatives contained therein, rhubarb is a decidedly effective remedy and widely used in the treatment of constipation.
For the treatment of these disorders, the plant must be taken internally.
As an indication, if rhubarb is taken as an infusion, it is generally recommended to prepare the product using 1-2 grams of powdered drug. Usually, the recommended dose is one infusion cup to be taken in the morning and / or evening.
In the case in which the rhubarb is taken in the form of an extract, however, generally, it is recommended to take a dose that varies from 0.3 grams to 1 gram of product.
Rhubarb in folk medicine and homeopathy
In folk medicine, rhubarb is used internally to counteract digestive disorders and loss of appetite; in addition to finding employment as a remedy for painful dentition in children. Externally, however, the plant is exploited by traditional medicine for the treatment of skin diseases and burns.
Rhubarb is also used in Chinese medicine, where it is used for the treatment of edema, abdominal pain, rectal tenesmus, amenorrhea and is even used as a remedy against delirium.
Rhubarb is also used in the homeopathic field with indications for the treatment of diarrhea, colic and teething problems in children. Generally, it can be found in the form of granules or drops.
The dose of homeopathic remedy to be taken can be different between an individual and another, also depending on the type of disorder that must be treated and according to the type of preparation and homeopathic dilution that is intended to be used.
Side effects
Following the intake of rhubarb, gastrointestinal spasms may occur due to the purgative effect exerted by the drug itself.
The use of rhubarb for long periods, on the other hand, can cause a considerable loss of electrolytes (in particular potassium ions). This loss can, in turn, lead to hyperaldosteronism and inhibition of intestinal motility.
Furthermore, prolonged use of rhubarb can cause serious adverse effects, such as: arrhythmias, edema, nephropathy and bone deterioration.
Contraindications
Avoid taking rhubarb during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, in children under 12 years of age and in cases of proven hypersensitivity to one or more components.
Pharmacological Interactions
Due to the excessive loss of potassium ions that may occur following prolonged rhubarb intake, the effects of cardioactive glycosides eventually administered concurrently with plant treatment may be enhanced.
Warnings
It is necessary to avoid the continuous recourse to rhubarb over time, unless under medical prescription, to avoid worsening the constipation situation. In fact, we usually recommend a treatment lasting no longer than one or two weeks.
In chronic constipation, rhubarb can only be used in cases of actual need, or for cessation from plants that act more drastically on the intestine, as they are responsible for the phenomenon of habit and a series of side effects.
