Positive Health Online

Abstract

GU and colleagues, Institute of Neurosurgery PLA, Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China, gujian@pub.xaonline.com.cn, investigated the possible benefits of the Chinese medicinal herb Rhubarb in patients with severe brain injury .

Background

Methodology

20 patients with severe cerebral injury and associated hyperthermia, renal failure, haemorrhage in the upper digestive tract and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) were treated with ethanol/water extracts of Rhubarb . 20 similar patients served as controls and did not receive treatment with Rhubarb extract. Experimental outcome measures included: vital signs, variations on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS), ICP, degree of haemorrhage in the digestive tract and changes in creatinine values.

Results

Improvements in the Rhubarb -treated patients were more marked than in the controls. On Day 3 after treatment, mean body temperature decreased by 1.1°C, mean ICP by 0.4 kPa (1 mmHg=0.13333 kPa), incidence of haemorrhage in the digestive tract by 30%, volume of haemorrhage in the digestive tract by 700±250 ml, and the time for occult blood to turn negative by 10%.

Conclusion

The Chinese medicinal herb Rhubarb had many beneficial clinical effects in patients with severe brain injury.

References

Gu J et al. (Rhubarb extracts in treating complications of severe cerebral injury.) Chinese Medical Journal 113 (6): 529-31. Jun 2000.