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Rhubarb roots - also available in pill form. |
Rhubarb root contains lindleyin, a substance with estrogen-like properties. On this basis, extracts of rhubarb have been tried for control of menopausal symptoms.
A typical dosage of rhubarb root is ½ to l teaspoonful of the root boiled for 10 minutes in a cup of water, three times daily.
In the menopause study mentioned above, a standardized extract was used. Such extracts should be used according to label instructions.
In a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 109 women with menopause-related problems, use of a standardized rhubarb extract significantly improved symptoms as compared to placebo. Improvements were particularly seen in rate and severity of hot flashes.
Rhubarb roots - also available in pill form. |
Rhubarb root contains lindleyin, a substance with estrogen-like properties. On this basis, extracts of rhubarb have been tried for control of menopausal symptoms.
Rhubarb root contains lindleyin, a substance with estrogen-like properties. 1 On this basis, extracts of rhubarb have been tried for control of menopausal symptoms. In a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 109 women with menopause-related problems, use of a standardized Rheum rhaponticum. extract significantly improved symptoms as compared to placebo. 2 Improvements were particularly seen in rate and severity of hot flashes. While this is meaningful supporting evidence, additional independent trials will be necessary to establish this rhubarb extract as a safe and effective treatment for menopause.
Other potential uses of rhubarb lack reliable supporting evidence.
One human trial purportedly found evidence that rhubarb could reduce the impairment of lung function that may occur when people with lung cancer receive radiation therapy. 3 However, this study suffered from a number of significant flaws, and its results cannot be regarded as reliable.
In another human trial, this one using a cream containing sage and rhubarb, researchers failed to find more than modest benefits at most for the treatment of herpes. 4
Additional proposed uses of rhubarb are supported only by test tube studies. For example, various rhubarb species have shown hints of potential value for treatment of
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- allergies
- pancreatitis
. 9 However, the vast majority of effects seen in test tube studies do not pan out when human trials are conducted.
