Tag: Rhapontic rhubarb

Used for decades in Germany to alleviate menopausal complaints, a standardized extract from rhapontic rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) offers significant benefits for women during hormonal transitions. This potent botanical has been celebrated for its gentle efficacy and historical use in traditional medicine.

According to botanical experts, rhapontic rhubarb and siberian rhubarb are indeed the same plant, known scientifically as *Rheum rhaponticum*. While the names are used interchangeably, they refer to a specific species of rhubarb, not the common garden variety. This unique plant, whose root is primarily used for medicinal purposes, has gained recognition for its potential to alleviate symptoms of menopause.

During World War I, several poisonings and deaths occurred when people were incorrectly advised to eat rhubarb leaves as a vegetable substitute. So, can you eat *Rheum rhaponticum*? The answer is yes, but only the stalks, as the leaves are toxic and must be discarded.