Rhubarb: Nature's Laxative Remedy

Rhubarb is a plant whose root and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. It is a natural laxative that has been used to treat constipation, without creating a lazy bowel, which is a common side effect of over-the-counter laxatives. It is LIKELY SAFE when the root is consumed as food and POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken in medicinal amounts for up to 3 months. However, long-term use can result in muscular weakness, bone loss, potassium loss, and irregular heart rhythm.

Rhubarb can be used to treat constipation without creating a lazy bowel

Rhubarb is a well-known vegetable with a laxative effect, often used to treat constipation. However, it should only be used as a short-term solution. Rhubarb contains anthraquinones, which have a stimulant effect on the intestines, increasing peristalsis and drawing fluid into the colon. This contraction of the intestines helps move material through the colon to the rectum.

Rhubarb is a safe and effective treatment for constipation, with several studies supporting its use. One study found that rhubarb root and rhizome are possibly safe for up to two years when taken in medicinal amounts. Another study showed that rhubarb improved stool frequency and consistency in middle-aged adults, with 92% of participants reporting improved transit speed.

Rhubarb is also known to have antibacterial effects and can be used to treat intestinal dysmotility in critically ill patients. It can help reduce gastric reflux and improve enteral nutrition. Additionally, rhubarb has been found to stimulate mucus production in the colon and alter intestinal flora, further contributing to its laxative effect.

However, it is important to note that rhubarb leaves are considered unsafe due to their oxalic acid content, which can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and even death. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to the stalk or root of the rhubarb plant for medicinal purposes.

Rhubarb can block the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream

Rhubarb is a natural laxative that has been used to treat constipation without creating a "lazy bowel", which is a common side effect of the repeated use of over-the-counter laxatives. The fibres found in rhubarb have been shown to reduce the passive absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, even more so than other types of plant fibres. This means that including rhubarb in meals can help lower the glycemic index of the meal as well as boost your fibre intake.

Rhubarb contains various compounds called anthraquinones. Two of these compounds have been found to improve the transport of glucose into our cells, so it’s not hanging out in the bloodstream but is instead being used as fuel. This is normally the job of insulin, but in people who suffer from diabetes, the insulin pathway is impaired or desensitized.

Rhubarb can aid in the treatment of cardiovascular disease

Rhubarb is a plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Its stalk is commonly eaten, while its root and underground stem are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Rhubarb contains fibre, which may help reduce cholesterol levels and affect stomach conditions. It also contains chemicals that might help heal cold sores and reduce swelling.

Rhubarb has been linked to aiding the treatment of cardiovascular disease in the following ways:

• Rhubarb is a good source of vitamin K, which is associated with promoting osteotropic activity, meaning that it stimulates bone growth and repair.
• The fibre in rhubarb may help lower cholesterol levels. In an animal study, it was found that rhubarb can help regulate cholesterol levels even if you eat a moderately cholesterol-enriched diet.
• Rhubarb contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and lutein, which are compounds that are beneficial for vision and protective to the retina.
• Rhubarb has been suggested to have eliminating heat, purging fire, treating constipation, cooling blood, treating gastrointestinal bleeding, and other properties that may aid in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Rhubarb may help treat hepatitis B

Rhubarb is a plant whose stalk is commonly eaten, while its root and underground stem are used in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains chemicals that might help heal cold sores and reduce swelling. Rhubarb also contains fibre, which may help reduce cholesterol levels and affect stomach conditions.

Rhubarb is one of the many species of plants and animals used as sources of Chinese medicine. It is a hepatoprotective herb, which means it demonstrates the ability to protect laboratory animals from the toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride, a liver poison. It also contains anthraquinones, which could have antiviral properties.

In a clinical trial carried out at three test sites in China, 94 inpatients were treated and evaluated, utilising three therapies. The main test therapy was the formula now called Salvia/Ligustrum Tablets, taken with a vitamin tablet. The primary control therapy was a tablet of the same size and dosage made with lentinus extract, atractylodes, and schizandra. The third control group took a patent medicine made in China.

As a result of 12 weeks of treatment, the Salvia/Ligustrum group and the Lentinus group showed marked improvement in symptoms and liver enzymes, more so than with the Chinese patent remedy. Antigen conversion from positive to negative occurred for HBeAg in two-thirds of patients treated by Salvia/Ligustrum or Lentinus Tablets, but in only one-third of those receiving the Chinese patent. Nearly half of those tested showed viral DNA conversion from positive to negative in those receiving Salvia/Ligustrum, and in one-third of those receiving Lentinus, but only in about one-fourth of those receiving the Chinese patent.

In sum, the Salvia/Ligustrum formula (used with a nutritional supplement) produced excellent results in treating hepatitis B patients. There were also obvious benefits, though less dramatic, for treatment with lentinus, schizandra, atractylodes, and the nutritional supplement. These treatments were superior to one that had been deemed the best available in China by the researchers.

Rhubarb is great for diabetics

Rhubarb is a natural laxative that has been traditionally used to treat episodes of constipation without creating a "lazy bowel," which is a common side effect of repeated use of over-the-counter laxatives.

Rhubarb is also great for detoxifying. Its main health benefit is its ability to promote detoxification, and its power of astringency. An astringent substance is a chemical compound that shrinks or contracts body tissues, thereby diminishing discharges of mucus or blood.

Rhubarb has also been shown to block the absorption of sugar. The fibres found in rhubarb have been shown to reduce the passive absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, even more so than other types of plant fibres. So including it in meals can help lower their glycemic index as well as boost your fibre intake!

Rhubarb has also been used for many years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat hepatitis B. These antiviral compounds are now being researched by western medicine to specifically treat hepatitis B as well as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

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