Rhubarb is a sweet, round-leaved pie plant, which is said to have some digestive qualities with a laxative effect. It is said to improve the tone of the bowel once it reaches the intestines, which aids in health of the digestive tract. It is said to help those who suffer from constipation, diarrhea and other digestive problems.
It has also been known to control gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It tends to aid in forming blood platelets, and this helps in treating jaundice, a condition when the person’s skin and whites of the eyes become a discolored yellow due to bile pigments that have increased in number. Jaundice is a result of liver disease. Rhubarb root helps with diarrhea because the galloytannin is isolated from the root and counteracts with the toxin secreted by the bacteria that tends to cause cholera.
There are some side effects that are associated with ingesting rhubarb root. These can include severe cramping in the abdomen, and lessening the amount of root taken in can alleviate it. If too much rhubarb root is taken, symptoms can occur. These include vertigo, nausea and vomiting. Long-term use also isn’t always a good idea, because it can lead to hypokalemia and liver cirrhosis. People who have or are susceptible to gall or kidney stones are advised not to take rhubarb root.
Rhubarb root should not be taken with cardiac medications, steroids, diuretics and laxatives because of a potential loss of potassium. The loss of potassium can be decreased by also taking licorice root with the rhubarb root.
