Herbs & Supplements:
He Shou Wu
Polygonum multiflorum
Alternate Names
•
Fo Ti
Principal Proposed Uses
•
High Cholesterol, Insomnia, Constipation
The name of this herb literally means "Black-haired Mr. He," in reference to
an ancient story of a Mr. He who restored his vitality, sexual potency, and
youthful appearance by taking the herb now named after him. He shou wu is widely
used in China for the traditional purpose of restoring black hair and other
signs of youth.
More so than with most Chinese herbs, tradition supports taking He shou wu as
a single herb, although it also figures as a component in many formulas. He shou
wu is also called fo ti; pure unprocessed root is named white fo ti, while herb
boiled in black-bean liquid according to a traditional process is called red fo
ti. The two forms are believed to have somewhat different properties.
What Is He Shou Wu Used for Today?
He shou wu is widely marketed today as a general anti-aging herb, said to reduce cholesterol, protect the heart, prevent age-related loss of mental function, improve sleep, and extend life span. However, the evidence supporting these uses is far too preliminary to meaningfully indicate effectiveness for any of these proposed uses.1-6
He shou wu is reputed to strengthen immunity; however, one constituent of the herb, emodin, has shown some promise as an immune system suppressant.7
Finally, He shou wu has a traditional reputation as a mild laxative. In support of this, it has been pointed out that emodin belongs to a family of chemicals called anthraquinones; other members of this family act as laxatives. However, animal research has failed to find any evidence that emodin itself has a laxative effect.8
Dosage
A typical dose of He shou wu is 3 grams of the raw herb 3 times daily, or
according to the label for processed extracts. For most purposes, the processed
or "red" fo ti is said to be superior. However, the raw herb is said to be
more effective for relieving constipation.
Safety Issues
Detailed modern safety studies have not been performed on this herb.
Immediate side effects are infrequent, primarily limited to mild diarrhea and
the rare allergic reaction. Safety for young children, pregnant or nursing
women, or those with severe kidney or liver disease has not been established.
Case reports relate use of a popular He shou wu product to liver inflammation.9,10 However, it is not clear whether He shou wu herb itself was responsible; Asian herbal preparations of this type have frequently been found to contain unlisted toxic ingredients, either due to poor quality control, or deliberate adulteration.11-14
View References
Last reviewed August 2002 by Medical Review Board
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