Laxative to combat acne – in the perspective of Chinese medicine

No, the heading is not misleading. It is indeed so. Rheum palmatum, or Chinese rhubarb, is a commonly known herb. It is distinctive by its red leaf-stalks which are used in cooking, for instance to make a pie of. Leaves are toxic and generally not used.

Other parts of the herb include bulbs and radix. These have, among others, also laxative effects, and this is exactly the reason for which they are used. The downside is that they are addictive, and in high doses may cause liver toxicity. Chinese medicine has been using this herb for centuries. Its characteristics is described as cool and bitter, with drainage or even purgative effects, which makes it a suitable agent to be used to eliminate inner heat which may be combined with dampness. In summary, a genuine laxative.

It is worth noting that according to ancient sources this herb used to be utilized to treat intestinal abscess, i.e. appendicitis. We strongly warn against such practices and stress that this herb is to be administered externally.

With a bit of exaggeration we may say that when administered to skin, it brings about a local laxative impact. The point is that the characteristics described above has a strong anti-bacterial and purgatory effect on the skin, followed by granulation, i.e. healing of the tissue. These are unique features that can be exploited in caring for skin suffering from acne. For a skin prone to oiliness, formation of hypodermic abscesses and congestion of pores, the use of pharmaceuticals produced from this herb can only be beneficial. There is no threat of addiction, so why not give it a try?

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