Useful and medicinal properties of Altaic jealousy
A large perennial herbaceous plant up to 2 m in height with a thick, multi-headed short rhizome and succulent fleshy roots. Radical leaves are large, round-ovoid, at the base deeply heart-shaped, with long petioles. The cauline leaves are alternate, ovate, with a dry, membranous socket at the base. In the second or third year of life, large paniculate inflorescences appear. Flowers are small, regular, white, green or pink. Blooms in July. The fruit is a trihedral nutlet of red-brown color, with wings.
Distributed in the south of Siberia, Altai, Sayans, Transbaikalia. It grows on rocks and stony slopes in the alpine belt.
Medicinal raw materials are rhizomes and roots. Dig them in the fall, cleaned of ground and small roots, washed, lightly kneaded and dried at a temperature of up to 60 ° C, cut into pieces. Raw materials are suitable for 5 years.
Rhizomes and roots contain 2 main groups of biologically active substances: tannoglycosides( tartaric substances of the pyrocatechol group and gallic acid derivatives), which cause astringent properties, and anthiglycosides, which increase intestinal motility. Oxymetalianthracanones are in a bound and free state, the most important of them are rimmaemodine, rhein, chrysophanol and the corresponding alcohols - anthranol. In leaves there is ascorbic acid, erogeterin, iron salts, oxalic and malic acids, substances of P-vitamin action.
In scientific medicine, the rhubarb root, dry extract, tablets, etc., is used to regulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Preparations prepared on water are designed for the laxative effect of antiglucosides, alcohol - on the improvement of digestion and astringent properties of tannic substances. Small doses of powder improve appetite, regulate the activity of the stomach, especially shown in catarrh of the stomach, intestines, dyspepsia;the average doses act as a choleretic;large - as a gentle laxative with intestinal atony, spastic constipation, constipation in children and pregnant women, to soften the stool with hemorrhoids and cracks in the rectum.
In folk medicine, rhubarb is used as a restorative for various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts, anemia and tuberculosis. Dry powder from the root is recommended for the treatment of burns.
With prolonged use, the laxative effect of rhubarb decreases, as the body gets used to it. Therefore, with the usual constipation rhubarb should be alternated with other drugs.