State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma

Common Name

Chinese Rhubarb Root

Category

Downward-Draining Herbs/Purgatives

Ingredients

Taste

Bitter

Pao Zhi

Wine-washed to clear & descend upper body fire; often used for Large Intestine heat toxin causing redness of the eyes, toothache, mouth ulcers & restless heat in the chest. Charred to reduce its downward draining action and break up blood stasis while strengthening its ability to stop bleeding; often used for heat accumuating in the Intestines causing bloody stool.

Temperature

Cold

Action / Indication

1. Drains heat and purges accumulations: for high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal distention and pain, delirium, yellow tongue coating, and a full pulse. This presentation is referred to either as Intestinal heat excess or the yang brightness organ-stage of the six stages of disease. 
2. Drains fire: for fire from excess leading to intense fever, sore throat, hot, swollen, and painful eyes, or fire toxin sores due to heat excess obstructing the blood level. Particularly useful when these problems are accompanied by constipation. 
3. Clears heat, transforms dampness, and promotes urination: for damp-heat leading to such problems as edema, jaundice, painful urinary dribbling, as well as acute, hot dysenteric disorders. 
4. Drains heat from the blood: for blood in the stool either from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat accumulating in the Intestines. Also for chaotic movement of hot blood that overflows, manifested in vomiting blood or nosebleed accompanied by constipation. Can be powdered and administered orally for bleeding from the upper digestive tract. This is an important herb because it can stop bleeding without causing blood stasis. 
5. Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis: for amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, or fixed pain due to blood stasis. Also for blood stasis due to traumatic injury or Intestinal abscess. This is an important herb for treating both recent and long-term blood stasis as it can both eliminate static blood that is outside the vessels via the bowels, and clear the heat that often develops from stasis. It is used both internally and externally. 
6. Clears heat and reduces fire toxicity: used either topically or internally for burns or skin lesions due to heat.

Treatment Principles

Purges the Bowels
Drains Fire
Breaks Accumulations
Drains Damp-Heat
Cools Blood
Moves Stagnant Blood

Contraindication

Contraindicated during pregnancy, for nursing mothers, qi and blood deficiency, and cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Use extreme caution during menstruation, or post-partum. Allergic reactions to this herb have been reported (with flushing, rash, and wheezing).

Dosages

3-12g. May use raw to enhance purgative effect, but use extreme caution, as overdosage of the raw herb can be toxic. Cook longer than 10 minutes to reduce the purgative effect. Wine or vinegar fry to

Meridians

HT, LI, LIV, ST, SP

Tom's Comment

1. Da Huang is a very commonly used laxative. It is used in acute management of constipation. Prolonged use of this herb may cause dependency.
2. Cooking Da Huang for less than 5 minutes preserves its laxative ability.

Source

Formula Type