From Garden to Hearth: The Rhubarb
Discover all about the fascinating properties of rhubarb, from nutrition to medicine and folklore
What is rhubarb?
Botanically defined as a plant (Rheum Rhabarbarum), from the family of Polygonaceae, rhubarb appears in our gardens and markets from April until June. It is commonly used for food, and it is known by many, all around the world, as a spring and summer delicacy for cakes and pies.
Contrarily to so many other plants, the stalks (also known as petioles), of the rhubarb are the only edible part. Its leaves actually contain high levels of oxalic acid and anthrone glycosides and are considered to be poisonous (1).
Refrain from eating rhubarb leaves please :)
The first historical evidence of the human use of rhubarb was found in the Divine Farmer’s Herb-Root Classic, a Chinese book, dated 1800 years old. Marco Polo, the merchant explorer, found out that it was harvested in the Tangut province. Rhubarb loves cold weather, and it's quite easy to grow as long as the temperature is not too high!
Rhubarb was imported through the Silk Road and made its way to Europe, and the rest of the world, in medieval times. Even if present in many of our gardens today, it was a true luxury back then, much more expensive than saffron, cinnamon, and even opium.
Its high price was one of the reasons that made people want to cultivate it independently from merchants, and which made it become so common both in Europe and in North America (2).
Nutritional and Medical Properties
Rhubarb is rich in antioxidants, which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. It is a wonderful source of vitamin K, which is fundamental for bone health and blood clotting. Rhubarb also has plenty of vitamin A, helpful to fight free radicals, that cause skin damage and premature aging.
In other words, rhubarb is great for bones, blood, and skin!
The nutritional properties of rhubarb are also a great aid to lower your cholesterol. Together with this, it helps with digestion, preventing issues such as constipation, and it is known for its anti-diarrheal effects! Its extract can also help wound healing.
Rhubarb pie is probably the most famous culinary use for this plant, but there are many other ways it can be implemented in our diet (3).
You can use rhubarb for ice cream, juice, or sauce for meaty dishes. You can also make it into rhubarb leather, or roast it with honey, to add it to salads and similar fresh dishes.
Properties in Folklore and Magic
Rhubarb has been part of our culinary culture for a long time, and that means that several folklore and magical correspondences can be found all around the world. Plants often have a big role in folklore and cultural magic, as they grow spontaneously, are related to the seasons, and can be used and stored in a variety of ways.
This darling plant is known, in folklore, for its protective powers. Used in rituals or simply placed inside homes, the good rhubarb would, allegedly, ward off negative energies and spirits. It is also a great ally when it comes to love and passion.
Perhaps it's the color, or the time of the year, but many cultures across the world portray rhubarb as a plant that has the capacity to strengthen existing relationships, but also attract love!
We already talked about its healing and purifying characteristics, but even in folklore, it is known that rhubarb helps to get rid of whatever is not needed — energetically, but also physically if you get what I mean. It also promotes good fortune and prosperity, as it is a symbol of abundance (4).
Growing rhubarb in your garden could help you with a more abundant and prosperous mindset (of course, it is not the plant itself, but the intention we put into anything we do).
Lastly, Rhubarb is also used in divination and spirituality practices, most of all in tea leaf reading. I already mentioned the leaves are poisonous: the tea should not be drunk (4).
Tasseography, the practice of reading tea leaves, is not based on the consumption of tea, but rather on the observation of shapes and lines left by the leaves in the cup.
Rhubarb is a versatile plant, that entered our culture many centuries ago. Let’s make the most of it and be grateful for its existence, as it has so many different uses and benefits :)
It is a spring and summer plant, and it brings all the energy and good spirit of the warm season!
Let me know if you have any more information on the uses and properties of the rhubarb, or simply whether you like it or not. I love it, and after making this post, I just might go make a pie! Until next time,
All the best,
Gaia
Sources
(1) Libert, Bo & Englund, Roger (1989). “Present Distribution and Ecology of Rheum rhaponticum (Polygonaceae)”. Willdenowia. 19 (1): 91–98.
(2) “Growing Rhubarb in the Home Garden”. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013.
(3) Neal, Bill (2003) [1990]. Biscuits, Spoonbread and Sweet Potato Pie. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. p. 308.
(4) https://plentifulearth.com/magickal-correspondences-of-rhubarb-rhubarb-materia-magicka/
