(Da huang; Turkey rhubarb) Esteemed for 5000 years as a safe purgative. Action is brisk, healthy and non-constipating. Has marked anti-tumour properties and is one of 4 ingredients in the Essiac® anti-cancer formula. The history of rhubarb has more than a fair share of intrigue and colourful characters. For centuries the true source and identity of medicinal rhubarb was concealed to protect traders supplying the European market. Even today in China the botanical identity of the crude drug sold in the herb markets is usually unclear.
-- GANSU STRAIN (R. aff. officinale) Our seeds come from a medicinal rhubarb farm in Gansu Province in Western China where traditionally some of the best medicinal rhubarb comes from. We think it is Rheum officinale, but a conclusive identification has not yet been made. Regardless of the botanical identity, this is in fact the right material for commercial rhubarb production.