This study will determine if rhubarb will reduced the incidence of pneumonia and improved recovery from an acute stroke. The study is designed to look at both infection rate and overall recovery and recovery of motor function, for example muscle strength and coordination.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Occurrence of an acute ischemic stroke (between 9 and 72 h after onset) with a score of at least 6 on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and patient age of at least 18 years.
• Have no pneumonia according to modified criteria of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Consistent with the Constipation of Phlegm-Heat Accumulation type by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standard
• Patients or their representatives voluntarily take part in this study and signed the informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Transient ischemic attack(TIA)
• Proven cerebral embolism caused by tumor, Brain Trauma, cerebral parasitic disease, dysbolismus, fibrillation atrial resulted from rheumatic heart disease, coronary heart disease, and other heart diseases
• Clinical signs of infection on admission
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Allergic to rhubarb
• Preceding or ongoing antibiotic therapy within the last 24 h
• Participation in another interventional trial
• Immunosuppressant treatment within the last 30 days
• Combining severe clinical conditions such as liver, kidney, Hematopoietic System, endocrine system or psychological diseases