Plants have been used as botanical medications for years before history was even recorded. A prime example is the Chinese Rhubarb, which was also known as Rheum officinale. Rhubarb is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine. The Chinese rhubarb originated and is native to the mountains and plateaus of China and Tibet. The rhubarb is a hardy species which can be found as weeds in people’s gardens and on the side of the road as well. This rhubarb is not the same as the one we’re familiar with that are found in some of our diets. The one that people eat is actually a hybrid that was developed in the 19th century that has no medicinal value in its roots. 3
The Chinese Rhubarb root was cultivated in China as early as 2700 BC and has been one of the widely used herbs used in china. It was mainly used in China for its purgative effects, The Chinese called it “great yellow” because the laxative properties came from the ground up powder of its
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Traditionally, the Chinese Rhubarb has been used as a laxative in order to relieve constipation and purgative due to its astringent properties. Through the history of rhubarb it has been taken internally for the treatment of chronic constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and menstrual problems. Externally the roots of the plant would be used to treat burns as well. The root has also been used to treat internal pinworms, threadworms, and ringworms. People have further claimed that Rhubarb enhances appetite before meals and even promotes blood circulation to relieve pain from inflammation.2 More so the Chinese Rhubarb is considered to be more of an “alternative” to help alter the course of an ailment of condition. It helps to cleanse and stimulate the removal of waste products. It is said to enhance liver and gallbladder function to effectively remove waste from the body.The effects of the rhubarb all depend on how the root is prepared and the