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Common Name: Chinese Rhubarb

General Information

Rheum officinale is a perennial plant that can grow up to 2.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves of some if not all members of this genus contain significant quantities of oxalic acid and should not be eaten in any quantity. Oxalic acid can lock up certain minerals in the body, especially calcium, leading to nutritional deficiency. The content of oxalic acid will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Tibet.

Habitat

Hills and forest understories at elevations of 1200 - 4000 metres in western China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a deep, fertile, moderately heavy, humus rich, moisture retentive, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[].
Hardy to about -20°c[].
A very ornamental plant[], it is closely related to R. australe[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Cultivated as a medicinal plant in China[].
Plants at the Cambridge Botanical Gardens in September 1993 were growing well in the shade of a woodland garden, though they were not succeeding when planted closely to the trees[].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Leaf stem - cooked or raw[, ]. Rather medicinal[].
One report says that the plant contains 1.3% rutin[]. It does not specify which part of the plant, though it is likely to be the leaves[].

Medicinal

Rhubarb has a long and proven history of herbal usage, its main effect being a positive and balancing effect upon the whole digestive system. It is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine[, ].
The root is anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, aperient, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, laxative, purgative, stomachic and tonic[, , , , , ]. The roots contain anthraquinones, which have a purgative effect, and also tannins and bitters, which have an opposite astringent effect[]. When taken in small doses, it acts as an astringent tonic to the digestive system, whilst larger doses act as a mild laxative[, ]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of chronic constipation, diarrhoea, liver and gall bladder complaints, haemorrhoids, menstrual problems and skin eruptions due to an accumulation of toxins[]. This remedy is not prescribed for pregnant or lactating women, nor for patients with intestinal obstruction[]. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of burns[]. The roots are harvested in October from plants that are at least six years old, they are then dried for later use[].
A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the dried root[]. This is used especially in the treatment of diarrhoea in teething children[].

Other Uses

Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 1.8 metres apart each way[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in autumn in a shaded cold frame[]. The seed can also be sown in spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in the spring.
Division in early spring or autumn[, ]. Divide up the rootstock with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that there is at least one growth bud on each division. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.