Da Huang (Rhubarb) - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Name: Da Huang
English Name: Rhubarb

Clinical Usage and Indications

  • Drains heat and purges accumulations - high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal distention and pain, delirium, yellow tongue coating, full pulse which indicates intestinal heat excess or yang ming stage illness.
  • Drains heat from the blood - blood in the stool from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat in the intestine; vomting blood or nosebleed accompanied by constipation; painful eyes or fire toxin sores due to heat in the blood level.
  • Drains damp-heat via the stool - jaundice, dysentery, lin syndrome.
  • Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis - amenorrhea, abdominal masses, fixed pain due to blood stasis (recent and long-term blood stasis).
  • Clears heat and reduces fire toxicity - for burns, hot skin.

Functional Groups (Click for Summary/Study Notes)

Dosage and Preparation Notes

  • Dosage: 3-12g
  • Raw has a more purging effect
  • Wine/Vinegar mix has a more blood invigorating effect
  • Charred will treat bleeding disorders

Channels/Meridians Influenced

Associated Temperature and Taste

Cautions and Contraindications

  • Avoid During Pregnancy and During Nursing
  • Avoid in exterior disorders and deficiency of qi and/or blood

Staff Clinician Notes

There are no additional notes for this herb.

Herbal Formulas Which Include This Herb

Below you will find Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas which contain this particular herb (in alphabetical order). You may click on the name of the formula for more details or click on any of the products from our store to read usage information or purchase a particular formula.

  • Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Used for heat that is lodged in the chest affecting all yang stages, also for phlegm in the liver/gall bladder.  Generally used for a range of psychological conditions, aiding with drug withdrawal and related issues.  Symptoms include chest oppression, anxiety, irratiblity, palpitations, excessive/delirious speech, heavy sensation of body, constipation, urinary issues.

    The Pulse will be wiry and rapid and the Tongue will be red with a slippery tongue coating.


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  • Chu Kou Wei Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


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  • Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Hui Chun Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Most often used for childhood convulsions (possibly with wheezing, nausea, nighttime crying, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive mucus/saliva) or other conditions that involve fever, impaired or loss of consciousness, irritability, restlessness such as seizure disorders, meningitis, measles, and gastroenteritis among others.


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  • Ma Zi Ren Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Constipation with dry/difficult to expel stools along with frequent urination.

    Pulse will be submerged and rapid or floating and choppy and the Tongue will have a dry, yellow coating.


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  • Tong Bian Pian

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


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  • Xie Xin Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Signs of damp-heat with interior clumping which may settle into the abdominal region and/or rise upward to the head.  Fever, irritability, red eyes, constipation, dark urine, flushed face - middle warmer issues - jaundice, dysentery, tongue/mouth ulcers.

    Pulse will be be wiry and rapid and the Tongue will be red, swollen with a yellow greasy tongue coating.


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