Dà Huáng (大黄) means "great yellow" — 大 (Dà, great) and 黄 (Huáng, yellow). It is one of the most powerful purgative herbs in Chinese medicine and one of the oldest documented medicinals, with references dating back over two thousand years. Rhubarb's dramatic purging action made it one of the first Chinese drugs to reach the West via the Silk Road, where it was highly valued in medieval European and Islamic medicine.

Botanical name: Rheum palmatum L. or Rheum tanguticum Maxim. (Family: Polygonaceae)

Part used: Root and rhizome

Nature: Cold

Flavor: Bitter

Meridians entered: Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, Liver, Heart

Traditional Actions

Dà Huáng purges accumulation through the bowels, drains damp-heat, clears fire, cools the blood, activates blood circulation, and removes blood stasis. It is the sovereign herb for conditions of constipation with heat and accumulation, and its blood-moving properties make it valuable in treating blood stasis conditions — bruising, traumatic swelling, and amenorrhea.

Its dual capacity to both purge downward and move blood makes it an important herb in trauma medicine (Diē Dá 跌打). Dà Huáng appears in formulas that address the blood stasis resulting from physical impact.

Key Classical Formulas

• Dà Chéng Qì Tāng (大承气汤, Major Order the Qì Decoction): One of the most famous formulas in the Shānghán Lùn. Dà Huáng with Máng Xiāo, Zhǐ Shí, and Hòu Pò — a powerful purgative for severe constipation with abdominal fullness and heat.

• Táo Hé Chéng Qì Tāng (桃核承气汤, Peach Pit Decoction to Order the Qì): Dà Huáng with Táo Rén and other herbs to purge blood stasis in the lower abdomen.

Cautions

Dà Huáng is a strong purgative and should not be used long-term or in conditions of Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold, during pregnancy, or during menstruation. Dosage control is critical. This article describes traditional uses and does not constitute medical advice.