Rheum palmatum
Rheum palmatum, also known as Chinese rhubarb, Turkey rhubarb, Indian rhubarb, Russian rhubarb, or simply rhubarb, is a plant species with a long history of medicinal use. It belongs to the family Polygonaceae and is native to the mountainous regions of western and northwestern China, as well as the Tibetan Plateau.
Description[edit | edit source]
Rheum palmatum is a robust herbaceous perennial growing to 2-3 m tall. It has large, triangular leaves, 40-60 cm long, with a pronounced red coloration. The flowers are small, greenish-white, and arranged in large compound leafy inflorescences.
Uses[edit | edit source]
The root of Rheum palmatum has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over two thousand years. It is considered a "cooling" herb and is used to reduce heat in the body, especially in the digestive system. It is also used to treat constipation, diarrhea, jaundice, and skin eruptions.
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Rheum palmatum prefers a sunny position and a well-drained soil. It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is propagated by seed in the spring or by division in early spring or autumn.
Toxicity[edit | edit source]
While the root of Rheum palmatum is used medicinally, it can be toxic in large doses. Symptoms of toxicity can include abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Long-term use can lead to electrolyte imbalance and potassium loss.
See also[edit | edit source]
Rheum palmatum Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD