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)

Polygonum multiflorum
(Photo by Fanghong, cropped) (Wikimedia)

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

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

Dose:

Raw and prepared roots are used in similar doses:
Powder: 1–4 grams;
Decoction: 9–30 grams

Preparation:

Prepared Polygonum Zhi He Shou Wu:
The root is prepared by putting pieces or slices of the root in a mix of rice wine and a concentrated decoction of Black Beans for several hours, then double-boiling until the root has absorbed the liquid, then drying. This is then warm, sweet and very good to strengthen the Blood, Yin, Liver and Kidneys while securing and nourishing Essence.

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 with Lower Back Pain, blurred Vision and other signs of aging, with Lycium Gou Qi Zi and Cuscuta Tu Si Zi (Dodder seed)
ii. Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Eclipta Han Lian Cao
iii. and to strengthen the tendons and bones and prevent ageing, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Poria Fu Ling, Lycium Gou Qi Zi and Cuscuta Tu Si Zi (Dodder seed), Dang Gui, Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi (as in Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan from Tang Jing Yan Fang [Experiential Prescriptions from Jishan Clinic]),
2. To nourish Yin and Yang, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu, Ginseng
3. To nourish Blood and Qi, promote Longevity and make the hair black, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Si Wu Tang (primary formula and Si Jun Zi Tang with Cinnamon and Astragalus Huang Qi.
4. To promote Longevity:
i. Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu, Ginseng, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Asparagus Tian Men Dong, Poria Fu Ling, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, This is a Daoist formula, also used to return hair to its original color.
ii. to strengthen Spleen, Liver and Kidneys, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Morinda Ba Ji Tian, Ginseng, Lycium Gou Qi Zi
iii. to nourish Yin, Yang and Essence, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu, Ganoderma Ling Zhi, Walnut, Plantain seed Che Qian Zi.
5. Dizziness, blurred Vision, numb extremities from Blood deficiency, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Taxillus Sang Ji Sheng (Mistletoe), Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi and Achyranthes Niu Xi
6. Dizziness, lassitude, Amnesia, Neurasthenia, premature ageing, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong), Epimedium Yin Yang Huo, Licorice (as in An Shen Bu Nao Ye of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
7. Uterine Bleeding from Blood and Kidney deficiency, Prepared Polygonum He Shou Wu with Dang Gui and Paeonia Bai Shao

RAW:
1. Constipation from dryness and deficiency, or Blood deficiency, Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with Dang Gui and Sesame seed.
2. Itchy, painful Sores, Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with Saposhnikova Fang Feng, Sophora Ku Shen, Peppermint (Bo He)
3. Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings:
i. Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with Scrophularia Xuan Shen (Figwort)
ii. Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with Self Heal
4. Chronic Malarial disorder with deficiency Raw Polygonum He Shou Wu with Ginseng, Dang Gui, Citrus Chen Pi, fresh Ginger

Major Formulas:

Dang Gui Yin Zi
Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan

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:

Polygonum multiflorum, He Shou Wu PRO