Detoxing
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Herbs: Turkey Rhubarb
   
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Common Name: Turkish Rhubarb
Scientific Names: Rheum palmatum L.
Family: Polygonaceae
Forms for use: Aqueous extract of coarsely cut or powdered dried
root
Traditional Usage:
! Anti-diarrheal ! Anti-inflammatory ! Antioxidant ! Cellular
Regeneration ! Cleansing ! Detoxifying ! Dysentry ! Diuretic !
Laxative ! Scurvy
Overview: The root of Turkish rhubarb has been used
traditionally to improve both digestion and loss of appetite.
The bitter tea is rich in tannins that increase the flow of
saliva and gastric secretions and can be used as an astringent
or stomachic at a low dosage to stop diarrhea (0.1-0.2g).
Formerly, the root was an important drug in many army camps,
said to stop the deadly scourge of dysentry in its tracks. At a
higher dosage (1.0-2.0g) the anthraquinones that it contains
function as a safe and effective laxative. This is an example of
a plant that can be used for opposite purposes depending upon
the dosage.
The German Pharmacopoeia recommends the root against
constipation and for all disorders in which defecation with a
soft stool is desired, e.g. anal fissures, hemorrhoids and after
rectal operations. It also recommends a small dose for stomach
and bowel catarrh.
Today the drug is mostly used as a laxative and is a component
of many choleretic drugs (a choleretic increases the flow of
bile into the intestines and is recommended in cases of liver
and biliary disorders that often cause constipation). The active
glycosides are hydrolyzed in the gut into their aglycones at
least in part by the action of bacterial enzymes. By influencing
the water and electrolyte transport in the colon, these
aglycones are responsible for the laxative action.
In China, Rheum officinale (considered interchangeable with
Rheum palmatum by most authors) is also used against toothaches,
and is said to improve bleeding ulcers up to 90% within a few
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Active Ingredients: Turkish rhubarb root contains 3-12%
anthraquinones including 60-80% chrysophanol, emodin,
aloe_emodin, rhein, physcionin, citreorosein, chrysophanol 1,
emodin1, aloe-emodin 8_glucoside; 10-25% dianthraquinones:
sennosides A, B, C, D, E & F; naphtalins, 1% stilbenes; 5-10%
tannins; and 2-3% flavonoids including rutin and several
polyphenols.
Emodin at different concentrations has many therapeutic benefits
including: anti-inflammatory at 15mg/kg; antiseptic;
antispasmodic; antiulcer, cathartic; vasorelaxant and viricidal.
Anthraquinones are also cytotoxic and stimulate cellular
regeneration, detoxification and cleansing.
Suggested Amount.
Unless otherwise prescribed: The finely chopped or powdered root
or powdered dry extract is used for making an infusion or
decoction. Hot water (approximately 150ml) is poured over
approximately one half to one flat teaspoonful of finely chopped
Turkish rhubarb root and after 10 to 15 minutes passed through a
strainer.
For constipation, a cup of the freshly prepared infusion is
drunk in the morning and/or at night before going to bed.
For stomach and bowel catarrh, a tablespoonful of the infusion
is taken several times. The average daily dosage as a laxative
contains 30-120mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives corresponding to
1.2-4.8g of drug (powdered root). The average daily dosage as a
bitter tea used as an astringent, stomachic and against ulcers
contains 3-9mg of hydroxyanthracene derivatives corresponding to
0.12-0.36g of powdered root. For soothing a toothache, Chinese
herbalists fry the root then steep it in alcohol to create a
tincture and then apply this on the affected tooth with a cotton
ball for five minutes. (Rhubarb root contains at least five
different pain relieving compounds, however, there are better
remedies than this for toothache that should be used first if
available).
Drug Interactions: In large dosages, the anthraquinones type
laxative compounds may increase the action of other laxatives
and should not be taken at the same time. With chronic
use/abuse, a potassium deficiency may develop that may
potentiate the effects of cardiotonic glycosides.
Contraindications: Laxatives are contraindicated in the case of
impacted bowel (serious bowel obstruction) or ileus of any
origin (danger of intestinal rupture). Rhubarb root should also
not be taken during pregnancy due to reflex stimulation of the
uterus or during lactation because a proportion of the active
aglycones reach the mother's milk.
Side Effects: If used as prescribed, none known. Like all other
anthracene glycoside laxatives, rhubarb root should not be used
continuously over a prolonged period as this disturbs the water
and electrolyte balance of the body. An increased loss of water
and salts, especially potassium salts, may occur and ultimately
a dangerous electrolyte imbalance can develop that can be fatal
if it persists. Large doses of Turkish rhubarb root tea may
cause gastric disturbance, nausea and diarrhea due to
anthraquinones type laxative compounds.
Burdock is a very important component in an ancient native North
American herbal decoction, usually available as either powder to
brew a tea from or as a liquid tonic itself. It is known
variously by many names, but most commonly as Essiac. The basic
Essiac Ingredients are.
1. Burdock Root (Arctium lappa), 2. Sheep Sorrel (Rumex
acetosella) 3. Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) 4. Turkey Rhubarb
(Rheum palmatum).
References:
Dreessen M, Eyssen H, and Lemli J. 1981. The metabolism of
sennosides A and B by the intestinal microflora: in vitro and in
vivo studies on rat and mouse. J Pharm Pharmacol 33: 678-681.
Driscoll JS, Hazard Jr HB, Wood Jr, and Goldin A. 1974.
Structure_antitumor- activity relationships among quinone
derivatives. Cancer Chem Rep, Part 2 4: 1-27. Duke JA. 1985.
Turkish rhubarb. In Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. CRC Press, Boca
Raton, FL, p. 404; Emodin. p. 572. Wichtl M (ed). 1994. Rhei
radix - Turkish rhubarb root (English translation by Norman
Grainger Bisset). In Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. CRC
Press, Stuttgart, pp. 415-418. Yagi T, Yamauchi K, and Kuwano S.
1997. The synergistic purgative action of aloe-emodin anthrone
and rhein anthrone in mice: synergism in large intestinal
propulsion and water secretion. J Pharm Pharmacol 49: 22-25.
Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as medical
advice on any product, condition or course of action, nor does
it constitute in any way medical advice endorsing any specific
product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any
condition or problem. This article is meant as a source of
information upon which you may base your decision as to whether
or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral and/or herbal
supplement for better health, or begin using a greens product
as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
About the author:
Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than
40 years, is a published author and freelance writer.
This article is Copyright 2005 by http://www.organicgreens.us,
http://www.organicgreens.ca and Loring Windblad. This article
may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is
copied complete with all links and text, including the Authors
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