He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti)

He shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum), also known as fo-ti, has been historically used to counteract the effects of aging and support good health as people age. It is also regarded as being able to restore greying hair. There is a story about an elderly man with grey hair who had become impotent. He started taking he shou wu and in time, not only did he regain his sexual vitality, his black hair color was restored, and he ended up living a long healthy life. This is why the common Chinese name means Mr. He’s black hair (shou = head, wu = black).

I never took he shou wu long enough to see if it would bring my hair color back, so I can’t personally vouch for this property, but they’ve done some studies in China using he shou wu as part of a formula and found it helped with premature greying.

What is a Jing Tonic?

He shou wu is considered a jing tonic in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Jing is the basic life energy you were given at birth. It is said to reside in the kidneys, but it should also be associated the adrenal glands. You can use up your jing more quickly by adopting bad health habits. We might call using up your jing as “burning the candle at both ends.” Jing tonics are thought to fortify this vital energy, thus helping to prolong life.

In addition to tonifying the jing, he shou wu is also used to nourish the blood of the liver and kidneys. In TCM, the liver is said to “build the blood,” and since the blood nourishes every organ, healthy blood is necessary for general health. The kidneys, in contrast, clean up the blood by removing waste products and toxins.

He Shou Wu for Blood and Circulation

Research suggests that he shou wu has some specific circulatory-enhancing properties. Studies have shown that it has the ability to reduce blood cholesterol. In one study in China, over 80% of high cholesterol patients showed improvement when taking a decoction of the root. It is also used in TCM in formulas to support heart health and treat angina, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease.

Other Properties of He Shou Wu

He shou wu helps balance both the thyroid and the adrenal glands. This is why you’ll often find it in Western herbal formulas that help support those glands. It’s a tonic for thyroid function and works well with herbs like ashwagandha, black walnut, and nettle leaf to support thyroid health in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

It also contains a small amount of an anthraquinone, emodin, which gives it a mild laxative effect. However, it’s also mildly astringent, which means it also helps tone the GI tract. The Western herb, yellow dock has a similar dual action on the bowel.

Besides the above mentioned uses, he shou wu is used in TCM to treat various infectious diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis, infertility, impotence, vaginal discharge, and general weakness. It appears to have some immune-stimulating effects and may increase blood sugar levels, making it helpful for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Using He Shou Wu

He shou wu has decreased in popularity after some reports linked it with liver damage. The Chinese prepare he shou wu by cooking it in a black bean sauce and then drying it out, this turns it into what they call a superior tonic. This may also make it safer to use. They also say not to make a decoction of the plant in a metal container.

The herb is contraindicated in Chinese medicine for people with loose stools, spleen qi (chi) deficiency, and an accumulation of phlegm. In other words, don’t use it if you have mucus congestion, weak digestion, or a tendency to diarrhea. It’s probably not a good herb to use if you have a history of liver problems, either.

In spite of the above concerns, I consider he shou wu to be a safe herb when used in doses of up to no more than five grams per day, especially if you’re using the Chinese processed he shou wu. A good dose would be 2-4 capsules twice daily. The safest way to use it, however, would be as a part of a formula, the way the Chinese typically do.