Natural Remedies
There are two types of Rhubarb. The Chinese variety, Rheum Officinale, is the one mostly used in herbal medicine. However, garden rhubarb, Rheum Rhaponticum, also has some value in treating certain diseases.
Remedy For Constipation: The stalks of Garden Rhubarb are, of course, an aged-old remedy for constipation. I think that this makes it a very helpful treatment in diseases such as cancer, arthritis and psoriasis: Cleaning out the bowels of effete matter is imperative in treating any disease, as this is usually where the disease originates.
Rhubarb Root For Constipation: In using Garden Rhubarb for treating constipation, the most potent part of the plant to use is the dried root. It must be dried and powdered or chopped before using, and only a half teaspoon can be taken in one dose. Do not use this remedy more than once a week, as it is very vigorous in its action: overuse can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Poisonous Leaves: NEVER use the leaves of the Rhubarb plant. These are very poisonous, as they contain large amounts of oxalic acid. You can safely eat the stalks of Rhubarb, but never the leaves.
Stewed Rhubarb Stalks And Apple: This is a delicious combination which is often served as a dessert on its own, or used in a crumble as a treat. Simply stew your chopped Rhubarb stalks with an equal amount of grated, unpeeled apple.
In the absence of dried root, eating a cupful of stewed Rhubarb and apple each morning will surely waken up a lazy bowel.
Because of its laxative qualities, eating rhubarb and apple frequently will help to prevent cancer, arthritis and other degenerative disease.
Eat Plenty Of Other Stuff Too: Do not overdo the rhubarb. It is high in oxalic acid which can deplete your body of calcium if your diet is deficient in this and other nutrients. This can result in arthritis-type symptoms and bone pain.
If you use Rhubarb frequently, be sure to eat plenty of other foods which contain calcium, protein and oils, such as good quality milk, fish, sesame seeds, almonds and nuts.
Or, alternatively, use lots of carrot juice, or cabbage, to counter the depleting effect of Rhubarb.
Natural Cancer Treatment: Rhubarb has apparently been used in China for treating some types of cancer. (See ‘Miracle Healing Herbs’ by John Heinerman, PhD, published byPrentice Hall, 1998)
Mammary Tumours: Rhubarb contains good amounts of potassium, calcium, and Vitamin C. It is also reputed to contain the laxative ingredients rhein and emodin, which have shown to be effective in treating mammary tumours in mice.
Malignant melanomas have also responded to the use of rhein and emodin compounds. The dose given in John Heinerman’s book is 50mg per kilogram of body weight as a daily dosage.
Herbal Recipe For Treating Arthritis and Psoriasis: I have not tried this remedy, but this recipe adapted from Heinerman sounds to be very good. The cabbage juice contained in the mixture would, I think, help to reduce the depletion of calcium.
He macerates 1 cup of Rhubarb root with half a cup of chopped Rhubarb stalks.
To this is added 10 tablespoonsful of powdered grape root – the Oregon variety if you can get it.
8 X 50mg zinc tablets are pounded into the mixture.
The resulting mix is then put into a screw-top jar, and 3 cups of good gin or rum put over it. I think a good vodka would do the trick just as well.
Shake twice a day for two weeks, then strain the mixture.
The final addition is One and a Quarter cups of cold cabbage water. This is obtained by gently simmering half a chopped cabbage in two pints of water for half an hour, or until the water has reduced to about half or less.
Put the Rhubarb liquid, together with the cabbage water, into a bottle and screw on the lid.
I would keep it in the fridge, to make sure it does not ferment before you use it up.
Dose is one teaspoonful five times a day before meals and before morning tea and afternoon tea.
John Heinerman says this is helpful for treating Arthritis and Hepatitis. Skin diseases such as Psoriasis, Eczema, Herpes and Acne Vulgaris should all benefit from this herbal tonic.
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