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Turkey
Rhubarb
(Rheum palmatum)
Chinese rhubarb
 Description:
A perennial, conical rootstock which is fleshy and yellow
inside. It produces large, palmate, somewhat rough, 7-lobed
leaves on thick petioles, 12-18 inches long. The hollow
flower stem, 5-10 feet high, also grows from the rootstock.
It is topped by a leafy panicle of greenish or whitish
flowers. A native of China, cultivated for ornamental
purposes.
Medicinal,
Toxic: It is a appetizer, astringent, purgative, and
tonic. The powdered root is used for both a laxative and
astringent depending on amount used (Soak the rootstock
in cold water for 8-10 hours). For a laxative, take 1
tablespoon, 2-3 times a day. For an appetizer, take 1
teaspoon 2-3 times a day, before meals. Prolonged use
is not advisable, especially during pregnancy and those
nursing babies. A tincture is used to stimulate appetite
and digestion. The leaf blades, not the stalks, contain
enough oxalic acid to cause poisoning.
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