Polygonum multiflorum root, He Shou Wu 何首乌

Prepared Polygonum multiflorum, Zhi He Shou Wu 制何首乌

Fleeceflower root, Chinese Knotweed
He Shou Wu (TCM)
Picture Polygonum multiflorum
(Photo by Fanghong, cropped) (Wikimedia)

Picture Whole Wild unprocessed Polygonum He Shou Wu root (Chengdu Medicine Market, Adam, 2016)

Picture

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Botanical name:


Polygonum multiflorum

Parts used:


Root, Prepared and Raw

Temperature & Taste:


RAW: Cool, dry, Bitter;
PREPARED: Slightly Warm (Neutral). Bitter, Sweet.

Classification:


N. Blood Tonic

Uses:


PREPARED (Zhi He Shou Wu, or just He Shou Wu):
1. Tonifies the Liver, Nourishes the Blood:
-dizziness, blurred vision
-premature greying of hair, hair loss, alopecia areata, male pattern baldness
-Menstrual irregularity and uterine Bleeding associated with Blood deficiency

2. Tonifies the Kidneys, Strengthen the Sinews and Bones, Nourishes Essence:
-lower back and knee pain and weakness
-Nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea from Kidney deficiency
-good for diseases of old age, or signs of premature aging

3. Clears Wind from the Skin:
-Itching, and Wind rashes (rashes with itching) associated with Blood deficiency


RAW  (Sheng He Shou Wu):
1. Moistens the Intestines, Promotes Stool:
-constipation associated with dryness or deficiency

2. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Sores, Boils, Carbuncles, Toxic Swellings
-Scrofula, Goiter and Lymphatic swellings

3. Treats Malarial Disorders:
-chronic Malarial disorders associated with deficiency


Picture

Dose:


Powder: 1–4 grams;
Decoction: 9–30 grams

Preparation:


… available in PRO version



Comment:


This is one of the legendary herbs of Longevity of TCM. It begins with a 9th century legend of a Mr. He who was weak, frail, by all accounts prematurely aging, as well as infertile. He noted a plant with many vines and tendrils and the vines intertwined with one another which he read as a signature of lovemaking. He began to consume the herb regularly, and apparently grew back his head of black hair, became like a young man, and preceded to father children. Legend states he lived over 250 years, outliving a number of wives. The herb was, of course, Polygonum He Shou Wu.

Main Combinations:


PREPARED:
1. Premature Greying of Hair:
i. Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu

… available in PRO version


ii. Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


iii. and to strengthen the tendons and bones, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


2. To nourish Yin and Yang, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu,

… available in PRO version


3. To nourish Blood and Qi, promote Longevity, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


4. To promote Longevity:
i. Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu,

… available in PRO version


ii. to strengthen Spleen, Liver and Kidneys, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu,

… available in PRO version


iii. to nourish Yin, Yang and Essence, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu,

… available in PRO version


5. Dizziness, blurred Vision, numb extremities, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


6. Dizziness, Amnesia, Neurasthenia, premature ageing, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


7. Uterine Bleeding from Blood and Kidney deficiency, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version



RAW:
1. Constipation from dryness, or Blood deficiency, Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


2. Itchy, painful Sores, Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


3. Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings:
i. Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


ii. Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


4. Chronic Malarial disorder with deficiency Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with

… available in PRO version


Cautions:


1. Not used in those with loose bowels or Phlegm conditions; generally safe.

Toxicity:


–Polygonum multiflorum-Induced Liver Injury: Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, Material Basis, Action Mechanism and Current Challenges
–Liver Damage Associated with Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series

Main Preparations used:



GENERAL / REVIEW
–Traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: A review
–Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: A Review on Chemical Analysis, Processing Mechanism, Quality Evaluation, and Hepatotoxicity
–Review of clinical studies of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. and its isolated bioactive compounds

PROCESSING
–Effects of Different Processed Products of Polygonum multiflorum on the Liver

HAIRGROWTH / GRAYING
–Polygonum multiflorum extract support hair growth by elongating anagen phase and abrogating the effect of androgen in cultured human dermal papilla cells
–Polygonum multiflorum root extract as a potential candidate for treatment of early graying hair
–Mechanistic Studies on the Use of Polygonum multiflorum for the Treatment of Hair Graying
–Hair Growth Promotion Activity and Its Mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum

ANTIAGING / LONGEVITY
–Biological Activities of 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-Glucoside in Antiaging and Antiaging-Related Disease Treatments
–Polygonum multiflorum Extract Exerts Antioxidative Effects and Increases Life Span and Stress Resistance in the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and SIR-2.1
–Analysis of molecular networks and targets mining of Chinese herbal medicines on anti-aging
–Mechanisms of Heshouwuyin in regulating apoptosis of testicular cells in aging rats through mitochondrial pathway

DIABETES
–Water extract from processed Polygonum multiflorum modulate gut microbiota and glucose metabolism on insulin resistant rats
–Systemic elucidation on the potential bioactive compounds and hypoglycemic mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum based on network pharmacology

OSTEOARTHRITIS
–In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Osteoarthritis Effects of 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-Glucoside from Polygonum Multiflorum

OSTEOPOROSIS
–Preventive effects of Polygonum multiflorum on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats
–Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) Extract Attenuates Bone Loss in Diabetic Mice
–Effects of Processed Polygonum multiflorum with KIOM Patent on Bone Remodeling-Related Protein Expression in Human Osteoblast-Like SaOS-2 Cells