Natural Constipation Cure
As you know, the team at CellGrail doesn’t always agree with conventional medicine… But when it comes to this natural cure for constipation, both traditional and conventional health experts are in agreement.
I’m talking about rhubarb’s amazing health benefits, which are praised by healers all over the world.
The powerful components in rhubarb are a great help for your digestive system and the vegetable has been used in traditional medicine for eons.
A few months back I was talking about rhubarb to a friend, a doctor from Minnesota that I met at a health conference years ago.
We often like to chat about traditional medicine, even though he’s a conventional doctor. And the CellGrail perspective on health has inspired him to present his patients with some natural alternatives to over-the-counter drugs.
I applaud his initiative, and I think all doctors should do the same. That’s why whenever he’s looking for expertise on traditional medicine, I am eager to share my insights.
Now, getting back to our conversation, he was asking me about some efficient constipation natural remedies that his patients could make at home.
The first thought that came to mind was: “Rhubarb!”
His response came as a surprise: “Oh, yeah, I should have known that. It’s used in laxatives as well.”
I asked him to elaborate and he told me: “Yes, the anthraquinones from powdered rhubarb are sometimes separated and used in laxative medication. Weird how I never put it together that the plant itself could be used at home.”
I was both happy and outraged to hear this.
On one hand, happy, because finally a traditional Chinese medicine staple was being recognized for its healthful properties.
On the other hand, outraged, because why wouldn’t doctors just promote rhubarb’s natural properties? Why wouldn’t they advise patients to use a natural cure for constipation?
That’s what my friend has done ever since. And that’s what I want you to do from now on!
Don’t pump your body full of unnecessary drugs…
Nature has gifted us many efficient remedies that you can take advantage of without the unpleasant side effects of conventional medicine.
Let’s talk a little bit about rhubarb’s history…
Rhubarb – A Godsend Treatment Used For Millennia
Rhubarb, also known as “the great yellow” (“dà huáng” in Chinese), is one of the most frequently used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine…
Earliest records of this miracle plant date back to 2700 BC, when rhubarb was used to treat constipation. The tart vegetable was also included in “Shennong Ben Cao Jing,” a Chinese book about medicinal plants dating back to around 1800 years ago.
It was mostly used for digestive problems, offering great benefits to people suffering from constipation and diarrhea.
I know, that sounds bizarre. Actually, more like impossible. Constipation AND diarrhea?
It’s true, though. And I’ll explain later on how that’s possible…
But let’s first take a look at what other benefits rhubarb has for the human body…
Rhubarb’s Health Benefits – More Than Just A Digestive Aid
1. Rhubarb Boosts Brain Function
Our brains need vitamin K to limit neuronal damage, which rhubarb has plenty of.
Rhubarb has actually been linked to reducing inflammation in the brain, which can help with the prevention of chronic damage to the brain caused by strokes, ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Rhubarb Helps Strengthen Bones
The same vitamin K that helps our brains is also beneficial to our bones. The micronutrient has an essential role in increasing bone mineral density and preventing fractures.
So be sure to take your daily recommended dose of vitamin K for strong bones and a healthy brain.
3. Rhubarb Is Good For Your Vision
Rhubarb is also full of vitamin A and lutein, which are both healthy for your vision. The vitamin C from the plant can also be a great way to prevent eye infections like conjunctivitis.
4. Rhubarb Improves Your Skin
As I said in the last point, rhubarb is a great source of vitamin A. And this antioxidant also has amazing benefits for your skin, keeping the skin youthful and delaying the development of wrinkles and fine lines.
5. Rhubarb Can Help Beat Cancer
There have been studies that show that the anthraquinones found in rhubarb can aid the body in fighting off leukemia. Introducing these healthy veggies into your diet might be the extra help your body needs to prevent and fight against this terrible disease.
It’s also used to reduce inflammation in the liver and lower cholesterol levels in the blood. In conclusion, eating a lot more rhubarb pie might be of great benefit to your body’s overall health.
But for today’s topic, I have another recipe for you… Just keep on reading.
Before I dive into a rhubarb recipe that I know you’ll love, I think it’s important to note why rhubarb is such a great constipation cure.
The Purgative Qualities of Rhubarb
If history shows us that rhubarb has been used all over the world as a strong natural cure for constipation, that means our ancestors were onto something, right?
Nowadays, we have the technology to know exactly why these age-old remedies worked so well for our predecessors.
That’s how I know that its laxative powers are linked to the anthraquinones I keep on mentioning. These are organic compounds that have a stimulating effect on the intestines, increasing peristalsis (contractions that promote a healthy bowel movement).
But, if it increases contractions, how can it also help with diarrhea? Wouldn’t it do the opposite?
Well, you can also find tannin in rhubarb, which is a potent astringent. These biomolecules have a role in tightening the intestine, which is, indeed, helpful for people that are dealing with diarrhea.
It’s all about dosage. If you take a small amount (0.03 to 0.3 grams), rhubarb is helpful for diarrhea. If you take a larger dosage (1 to 6 grams), then you’ll have a powerful constipation medicine.
The tannin in rhubarb root is actually a good thing for constipation as well. It’s what makes it one of my favorite remedies.
The laxative effect starts kicking in 6-8 hours after the rhubarb is ingested. But after 14-18 hours, the tannin kicks in and starts to tighten the bowels.
Which gets rid of a problem a lot of people have with laxatives… They’re too potent and can lead you to the other end of the spectrum: diarrhea.
The two compounds have opposite effects, but they work together beautifully to promote healthy digestion… Isn’t that amazing?
You can choose to consume it however you like, from the famous rhubarb pie to a classic jam.
However, I find that rhubarb is at its most potent when consumed as an unsweetened tea.
And I’ll give you my recipe right now…
A Simple But Effective Rhubarb Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tsp of powdered rhubarb
- 1 cup of water (multiply for more servings)
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the rhubarb powder and let it steep for around 10 minutes.
- Drink and enjoy!
Rhubarb is known to have an extremely strong tart taste…
If you just can’t stand the tartness, I advise you not to add sugar because it will lower the tea’s potency. You can, however, add cinnamon or ginger, which are both good for your digestive system and they will help counteract the tart rhubarb taste.
Note: Something not a lot of people know is that the leaves on the rhubarb plant can be poisonous. So, if you’re buying or growing fresh rhubarb, be sure to remove them before consuming the stalk and/or root.
As a conclusion, rhubarb is an almighty natural cure for constipation that you can also use for other great health benefits. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about rhubarb’s healthful properties, and that you’ll try out my tea recipe.