Da Huang
| Da Huang in TCM:Explore the properties of Da Huang according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Factoids:
English Name: rhubarb root
Pharmacuetical Name: Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
Properties: bitter, cold
Temperature: cold
Channels: LI, ST, SP, HT, LV
Flavors: bitter
Special Properties:
circulates blood, clears heat, clears damp, resolves water accumulations, eliminates toxins, stops bleeding
Actions / Indications:
- Strongly purges accumulations ( yangming organ heat:
thirst, constipation;excess heat in intestines, abdominal distension
and pain; delerium; yellow tongue coat, full pulse)
- Drains damp heat (acute, hot dysenteric disorder;
damp heat jaundice; PUD; also excess edema, fluid retention)
- Clears heat, drains fire, stops bleeding (fever,
sore throat, red swollen painful eyes, headache, swollen gums, mouth
and tongue ulcers with constipation; blood in stool due to hemorrhoids
or heat in intestines; reckless movement of blood: hematemesis, epistaxis,
uterine bleeding)
- Invigorates blood; resolves stasis (amenorrhea, immobile
abdominal masses, trauma, acute and chronic blood stasis)
- Clears heat and toxicity (heat obstructing blood
with toxicity: intestinal abcess, fire toxin sores, hot skin lesions,
boils, carbuncles, burns: internally or
topically administered)
Special Notes:
- Da Huang has many contraindications because it is extremely cold and
bitter.
- Cooking da huang and gan cao together for
a long time (> 30 minutes) will reduce purgative effects, while cooking
short time will cause maximum purgation.
- Pharmacologically Da Huang has a remarkable laxative effect, and has
been shown effective to reduce LV damage in hepatitis.
- Patients with acute pancreatitis were treated very effectively with
a decoction of 30-60g da huang every 1 to 2 hours until symptoms returned
to normal.
- According to Dr. Zhang Ziao Ping a small amount of Da Huang is effective
to treat hypertension and LV fire.
- Mang Xiao is often combined with Da Huang to strongly
treat excess constipation due to heat. Both Da huang and Mang
Xiao can cause intestinal cramping as they stimulate the movement
of the intestines.
Contraindications:
- (cc: pregnancy)
- (cc: nursing mothers)
- (cc: during menstruation)
- (cc: exterior disorders)
- (cc: SP and ST deficient cold)
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