What are rhubarb supplements used for?

Bleeding (upper gastrointestinal): Rhubarb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many gastrointestinal disorders, including upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Preliminary evidence suggests that rhubarb may be beneficial in reducing upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Higher quality studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Gingivitis: Pyralvex® has been used for decades as a salve for gingivitis and the oral mucosa; Parodium® was introduced more recently as a similar treatment. Their active components both include rhubarb extract. The results from several clinical studies investigating Pyralvex® and Parodium® indicate that these combination treatments may be beneficial in treating gingivitis. However, additional study is needed in this area.

Renal failure (chronic): A traditional Chinese medicine, rhubarb has shown positive effects on renal (kidney) failure in the lab and seems promising in human studies. In some studies, rhubarb is more effective than captopril, and rhubarb combined with captopril is more effective than either substance alone. Higher quality studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.