Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- bitter
- Potency (Virya)
- cold
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- pungent
- Dosha Effect
- Pitta & Kapha decreased · Vata increased
- Tissues
- Plasma, blood, fat
- Systems
- Excretory, digestiveAction: Purgative, alterative, hemostatic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, stomachic, bitter tonic, ca-thartic, laxative, atonic indigestion Uses: Consti-pation (with fevers, ulcers, infections), diarrhea, Pitta dysentery, jaundice, Milder than senna (liver disorders. One ofthe best purgatives), protectscolon tone, Ginger or fennel is added to re-move griping action 4 parts rhubarb:1 part gin-ger or fennel (used with licorice and psyllium in olderand dryer persons), purges bile, ama, stagnant food and blood, reduces weight and fat, Also for teething and nutritional balancing (is safe for children), atonicdyspepsia, or indigestion, duodenal catarrh. It isstronger when used with Epsom salt.
Overview
Rhubarb (Rheum sp.), known in Sanskrit as Amla-vetasa and in Chinese as Da huang, is one of the best purgative herbs in the Ayurvedic and Chinese pharmacopeias. Its rasa is bitter, with cooling virya and pungent vipaka. It pacifies Pitta and Kapha while increasing Vata.
Rhubarb root is stronger than flaxseeds or triphala but milder than senna as a purgative. It has a distinctive astringent aftereffect that protects the tone of the colon—an advantage over harsher purgatives. It is effective for all manner of constipation, particularly that accompanying fevers, ulcers, or infections, as well as for febrile or damp-heat diarrhea. For weaker or older patients with significant dryness in the colon, it can be combined with licorice and sweet bulk laxatives like psyllium or flaxseeds.
Acting on plasma, blood, and fat tissues through the excretory and digestive systems, rhubarb functions as a purgative, alterative, hemostatic, antipyretic, and anthelmintic. It is indicated for constipation, Pitta-type diarrhea and dysentery, jaundice, liver problems, and skin inflammations. It tends to cause griping and should be combined with a carminative. Precautions include pregnancy, chronic diarrhea, chills, and use with caution on hemorrhoids. Dosage is 1 g as a laxative or 3 g as a purgative.
Source: The Yoga of Herbs, Section A: Commonly Available Herbs
Ayurvedic Properties (Energetics)
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | bitter |
| Virya (Energy) | cold |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | pungent |
| Dosha Effect | PK- V+ |
| Tissues (Dhatu) | Plasma, blood, fat |
| Body Systems | Excretory, digestiveAction: Purgative, alterative, hemostatic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, stomachic, bitter tonic, ca-thartic, laxative, atonic indigestion Uses: Consti-pation (with fevers, ulcers, infections), diarrhea, Pitta dysentery, jaundice, liver disorders. One ofthe best purgatives (milder than senna), protectscolon tone, used with licorice and psyllium in olderand dryer persons (ginger or fennel is added to re-move griping action 4 parts rhubarb:1 part gin-ger or fennel), purges bile, ama, stagnant food and blood, reduces weight and fat, is safe for children(also for teething and nutritional balancing), atonicdyspepsia, or indigestion, duodenal catarrh. It isstronger when used with Epsom salt. |
Source: The Ayurveda Encyclopedia, Chapter 4: Herbology
Therapeutic Actions
- Pa-: ćana Digests toxins
- Amana-: śaka Destroys toxins
- Anulomana: Directs the flow of vata downwards, a laxative
- Recana: A medium strength laxative
- Kr.mina-: śaka Vermifuge
- Gulmana-: śaka Removes abdominal tumours and obstructions Raktaśodhana Blood purifier
- Biomedical: Purgative, emmenagogue, alterative, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic, astringent, diuretic
Dosage & Combinations
Dosage: 0.5g is astringent and constipating, 1g is laxative, 3g+ is purgative and it is also haemostatic when used at up to 9g per day in a decoction. As a tincture use 1–6ml per day of a 1:3 @ 25%.
Combinations:
- Fennel, ginger, peppermint to stop griping. Licorice, psyllium husk, hemp
Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications: * Manjishtha, shatavari, amalaki; for high pitta and ulceration in; the GIT; * Turmeric, myrrh, pippali for; female reproductive stagnations with ama
Safety: It may reduce the absorption of iron (Harkness & Bratman 2003). It may cause griping and should be used with appropriate antispasmodics. Laxatives containing anthroquinone glycosides should not be used at a high dose for more than 2 weeks at a time due to the potential risk of causing an electrolyte imbalance if diarrhoea is caused. Hence caution with cardiac glycoside medication, thiazide diuretics and concurrent hyperkalaemia from long-term laxative abuse due to potential problems caused by further electrolyte imbalance (WHO 1999).
How to Use Rhubarb by Condition
Explore how Rhubarb is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.