What conditions are treated with Rhubarb and Black Prepared Slices?

Rhubarb and Black Prepared Aconite Slices are generally used to treat disorders such as gastrointestinal excess-heat constipation, damp-heat dysentery, blood stasis with amenorrhea, heat-toxin skin ulcers with swelling and pain, and damp-heat jaundice. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Gastrointestinal Excess-Heat Constipation

This condition is caused by heat accumulation in the intestines leading to impaired bowel function. Symptoms include dry, hard stools, abdominal distension and pain, bad breath, dry mouth, and short, dark urine. Rhubarb purges the bowels and removes accumulated heat, while Black Prepared Aconite Slice (processed aconite), although warm in nature, can moderate the cold nature of rhubarb. This combination is suitable for patients with heat-accumulation constipation accompanied by mild yang deficiency, relieving obstruction caused by stagnation of dry feces.

2. Damp-Heat Dysentery

Damp-heat accumulating in the intestines leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, tenesmus, and passage of pus and blood in the stool. Rhubarb clears heat, dries dampness, cools the blood, and detoxifies, while a small amount of Black Prepared Aconite Slice harmonizes the properties of the other herbs, alleviating symptoms of damp-heat dysentery such as abdominal pain and passage of pus and blood in the stool. It should be used together with other herbs such as Coptis (Huang Lian) and Aucklandia (Mu Xiang) to enhance therapeutic effects.

3. Blood Stasis Amenorrhea

Qi stagnation and blood stasis blocking the uterus manifest as amenorrhea lasting for several months, stabbing pain in the lower abdomen with tenderness upon palpation, dark menstrual blood with clots. Rhubarb breaks up blood stasis and expels retained blood, while Black Prepared Aconite Slice warms and promotes blood circulation. When used together, these herbs can improve amenorrhea caused by blood stasis and should be combined with blood-activating herbs such as peach seed (Tao Ren) and safflower (Hong Hua). This combination is suitable for conditions involving cold coagulation with blood stasis accompanied by signs of heat.

4. Heat-Toxin Skin Ulcers with Swelling and Pain

Heat-toxin accumulating in the muscles and skin causes localized redness, swelling, heat, and pain, with early-stage sores that have not yet ruptured. Rhubarb, used internally or externally, clears heat, detoxifies, reduces swelling, and disperses nodules. A small external application of Black Prepared Aconite Slice warms and promotes local blood circulation, facilitating the dissipation of heat-toxin. It is often combined with honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua) and dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) to relieve redness, swelling, and pain in early-stage sores.

5. Damp-Heat Jaundice

Damp-heat accumulating and obstructing the liver and gallbladder manifests as yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark yellow urine resembling tea, but accompanied by cold intolerance and cold limbs (mild cold-dampness). Rhubarb clears damp-heat from the liver and gallbladder and reduces jaundice, while Black Prepared Aconite Slice warms yang and transforms dampness. This combination is suitable for Yang jaundice (dominated by damp-heat) in individuals with a mild cold-damp constitution, relieving symptoms such as jaundice accompanied by heavy limbs and epigastric fullness.

Black Prepared Aconite Slice is a processed slice of aconite, which is extremely hot in nature and toxic. When combined with rhubarb, it represents the principle of "contrary yet mutually reinforcing effects." Dosage and decoction time must be strictly controlled. It must be prescribed by a TCM physician based on pattern differentiation. Self-medication is strictly prohibited to avoid poisoning or worsening of the condition.