Rheum officinale (Chuandahuang)

Present Day Application:
For serious injuries, losing large amount of blood, infection, shock, sudden stoppage of heart or respiration, intoxication, hypoxemia , Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS), Multi-organ Failure (MOF). It can help preventing: the inflammation of the stomach and intestine paralysis, liver cell injury in acute hepatitis, and acute lung injury. If the above illnesses have already occurred, it can provide a different degree of therapeutic effect.

Distribution:
Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Xikang and other provinces.

Properties (characteristics):
Bitter, cold

Channels (meridians) entered:
Beart, large intestine, liver, stomach

Actions & Indications:
For lack of bowel movement, dysentery, blood clots, tumor, red and painful eyes, abdominal distention and/or pain, blood in stool, hemorrhoidal bleeding, urination burning sensation, Nasal Bleeding, coughing up blood, sore extremities, Edema, Jaundice, lesions, burns and scalding (external application), absence of menses.

Medical Function:
Induces diarrhea: Oral administration of water or an alcohol extract created diarrhea in white lab mice. Its water extract did not affect the carbon powder movement in the small intestine, but could promote the expelling of the carbon powder It did not affect the amount of water in the small intestine but increased the water in the large intestine. Using the extract for muscle or vein injection did not induce diarrhea. The laxative effect of da huang has nothing to do with the blood flow but is a direct effect in the large intestine, causing the large intestine's motility, and an increase in the amount of moisture generated, thus causing the purgative effect.
 
Dosage:
3~12 g.

Cautions:
Not suitable for patients with pixu (spleen deficient) condition. Long term usage is not recommended. Constipation may follow after sudden dropping of usage of da huang after long period of time.