Is rhubarb poisonous?

The medicinal herb rhubarb contains a certain amount of toxicity. If we take it excessively, it will cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Long-term use will lead to iron deficiency anemia, and symptoms such as skin itching and erythema will appear. I hope everyone can pay attention to the dosage and method of taking rhubarb. If we use rhubarb as a medicinal herb well, it can regulate the spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness and promote bowel movements. It is very effective in promoting the body's recovery.

Side Effects of Rhubarb:

In addition to causing gastrointestinal reactions, long-term use of rhubarb can cause severe iron deficiency anemia, with hemoglobin dropping to 5-5.6g. It returns to normal when the dosage is reduced and iron and other vitamin C are supplemented. Through the study of charcoal transit time and excretion time in the intestine and the determination of intestinal water content, it is proved that rhubarb acts in the large intestine and is a large intestine laxative. Iron is mainly absorbed in the large intestine. It is believed that the reasons for iron deficiency may be that the laxative effect of rhubarb interferes with the absorption of iron; rhubarb tannic acid may combine with Fe to form an insoluble complex, hindering absorption; soda neutralizes gastric acid; it interferes with the chelation of iron and vitamin C, hindering the absorption of iron. There was also a report of an asthma patient who developed skin pruritus and erythema and worsened asthma after taking four tablets of rhubarb soda. Patch tests confirmed that it was rhubarb sensitization.

Contraindications of using rhubarb

It should be taken with caution if the external symptoms have not yet subsided, the patient has blood deficiency and weak qi, the spleen and stomach are cold, there is no real heat, stagnation, or blood stasis, as well as before and after pregnancy.

If this product is used for laxative purposes, it should be added last when decocted or the juice should be soaked in boiling water, otherwise the efficacy of the medicine will be weakened.

After taking rhubarb, its pigment will be excreted through urine or sweat glands, so urine and sweat may appear yellow. In addition, if breastfeeding women take it, the baby may suffer from diarrhea by sucking breast milk, so breastfeeding women should not take it. Since this product can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, women must use it with caution before and after pregnancy and during menstruation.

What are the side effects of rhubarb? The above introduces the toxicity of rhubarb and the side effects of rhubarb. Although rhubarb has many benefits, it also has many side effects. Everyone should pay attention when taking it.