Rhubarb Root
Modern sources record safety concerns for this herb. Reference information, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Modern sources record use restrictions for rhubarb root and rhizome (da huang). The WHO monograph on Rhizoma Rhei states that, as a stimulant laxative, it should not be used in patients with intestinal obstruction or stenosis, atony, severe dehydration with electrolyte depletion, or chronic constipation, nor in inflammatory intestinal diseases such as appendicitis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome, nor in children under 10 years of age, and that it should not be used during pregnancy or lactation except under medical supervision. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Drains heat and purges accumulation, freeing the stool by flushing the stomach and intestines (clearing out the old to bring forth the new); dispels static blood and abdominal masses, disperses retained food and phlegm, and addresses constipation with heat, jaundice and tidal fever with delirious speech.
Used in 29 formulas
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十七·草部·大黄·主治（《本经》）
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：《本经》载大黄主下瘀血血闭、寒热、破癥瘕积聚、留饮宿食、荡涤肠胃、推陈致新、通利水谷；《别录》平胃下气、除痰实、肠间结热、心腹胀满、女子寒血闭胀；甄权谓通女子经候、利水肿、利大小肠；李时珍谓泻实热燥结、潮热谵语、黄疸诸火疮。
Nature & flavor: 苦，寒，无毒（《本经》；《别录》谓大寒；吴普载神农、雷公谓苦有毒）；张元素谓气味俱厚、沉而降、阴也。·Meridians: 脾（足太阴）, 胃（足阳明）, 大肠（手阳明）, 肝（足厥阴）, 心包（手厥阴）
- Rhubarb and Coptis Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Aconite Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Minor Order the Qi Decoction
- Major Order the Qi Decoction
- Major Sinking into the Chest Decoction
- Major Sinking into the Chest Pill
- Rhubarb and Aconite Decoction
- Rhubarb and Eupolyphaga Pill
- Rhubarb and Niter Decoction
- Rhubarb and Licorice Decoction
- Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction
- Drive Out Stasis Decoction
- Rhubarb and Kansui Decoction
- Peach Pit Decoction to Order the Qi
- Cinnamon Twig plus Rhubarb Decoction
- San Huang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill)
- Magnolia Bark and Rhubarb Decoction
- Gardenia and Rhubarb Decoction
- Magnolia Bark Three-Substance Decoction
- Virgate Wormwood Decoction
- Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction
- Magnolia Bark Seven-Substance Decoction
- Stephania, Zanthoxylum Seed, Lepidium, and Rhubarb Pill
- Resistance Pill
- Cannabis Seed Pill
- Resistance Decoction
- Turtle Shell Decocted Pill
- Poria, Licorice and Schisandra Decoction plus Ginger, Asarum, Pinellia, Apricot Kernel and Rhubarb
- Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·毒草类·大黄（《本经》下品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·气味（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·发明（时珍·五经血分之药）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·主治（《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·主治（时珍）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十七·草部·大黄·气味（时珍·妊娠产后勿轻用）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.