What are the Benefits and Functions of Rhubarb Charcoal?

Rhubarb charcoal has the effect of cooling blood and stopping bleeding, clearing damp-heat. It is commonly used for the treatment of blood vomiting, hemoptysis, hematochezia, excessive menstruation, and uterine bleeding caused by excessive blood heat. It can also be used for the treatment of red eyes, toothache, and other symptoms caused by internal heat toxicity. Rhubarb charcoal is often used in combination with scutellaria, coptis chinensis, and other herbs to treat upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastric ulcer, esophageal varices, and other conditions.

1. Rhubarb charcoal is a processed product of the traditional Chinese medicinal material rhubarb. Raw rhubarb has a strong laxative effect, while cooked rhubarb has a slower laxative effect but can still clear heat and detoxify, and clear damp-heat. When processed with alcohol, it has the effect of activating blood circulation and clearing the upper jiao. Additionally, charcoal-processed rhubarb is often used for cooling blood and stopping bleeding.

2. The raw processed rhubarb is bitter and cold, with a heavy and sinking aroma. It travels downward without staying in one place, reaching the lower jiao directly, and has a strong laxative effect, attacking stagnation and guiding stagnation, clearing heat and detoxifying. It is commonly used for treating constipation with excessive heat, high fever, mania, blood vomiting, damp-heat jaundice, bruises, blood stasis and amenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis and pain, and can also be used externally for burns and scalds.

3. Rhubarb is also known as the "General." It is bitter, cold, and toxic, with a strong and harsh effect, good at descending and clearing heat, promoting bowel movement, eliminating old and bringing in new, purging accumulated food, removing blood stasis, and breaking down tumors and thinning fat. Charcoal-processed rhubarb has a slower and more potent effect, achieving the effect of hemostasis, arresting diarrhea, and detoxification.