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Cura x Cura

Da Huang大黄

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma · Rhubarb Root · Chinese Rhubarb

Downward-Draining Herbs 泻下药《神农本草经》

Overview

The general of the purgatives, so called for the decisiveness with which it clears accumulation downward: bitter and cold, it drains heat and stool together, cools blood that is heated to the point of bleeding, moves stasis and clears damp-heat jaundice. Its preparation decides its work — added late to the pot it purges hardest, long cooking leaves mainly the heat-clearing action, wine-prepared Da Huang lifts it to clear heat in the head and eyes, and vinegar-prepared Da Huang turns it toward stasis and pain.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Large Intestine · Liver · Pericardium

Typical Dosage

5–15 g in decoction
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Actions

5 core actions

  • Drains downward, breaks up accumulationConstipation with fullness and pressure in a heat-excess pattern, high fever with dry hard stool.
  • Clears heat, drains fire, resolves toxicityRed sore eyes, swollen painful throat and gums, mouth ulcers, hot sores; also applied topically to burns.
  • Cools blood, stops bleedingVomiting or coughing of blood and nosebleed from blazing fire; the charred preparation is preferred for bleeding.
  • Invigorates blood, unblocks menstruationBlocked periods with stasis, fixed abdominal masses, pain after traumatic injury.
  • Clears damp-heat, resolves jaundiceDamp-heat jaundice and damp-heat painful urination.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Da Huang

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Heat-excess constipation with abdominal fullness
    - Fire toxin: red eyes, sore throat, mouth ulcers, hot sores; burns externally
    - Bleeding driven by heat, such as nosebleed or vomiting of blood
    - Blood stasis: blocked periods, abdominal masses, traumatic injury
    - Damp-heat jaundice

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

ConstipationJaundiceGastrointestinal bleedingBurnsAcute abdomen

Contraindications

Cautions

A strong purgative and not a daily laxative: stop as soon as the bowels move, since repeated use builds dependence and can leave the bowel more sluggish than before. Not for cold or deficiency patterns, weak or elderly patients, or anyone depleted after illness or childbirth without close supervision. It may colour the urine yellow-brown, which is harmless. Long-term unsupervised use is specifically to be avoided.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy. Also avoided during menstruation and while breastfeeding — its constituents pass into breast milk and can loosen the infant's stools

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.