He Shou Wu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori Praeparata)

Latin Name: Fallopia Multiflora

Other name: Fo-ti

Type: Herb

He Shou Wu (also known as Fo-Ti) is derived from the roots of Polygonum multiflora. It is the dried or cured root of a twining vine in the knotweed family. He Shou Wu is a plant native to China that is also found in Japan and Taiwan. It is occasionally grown in American gardens as a decorative ornament. The older and larger roots are considered to be more potent and highly valuable but these are rare and very costly.

The medicinal quality of He Shou Wu is found in its root. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is often boiled in a liquid made with black beans for promoting healthy hair growth.

Traditional Uses of He Shou Wu

He Shou Wu has been used in Chinese medicine for generations. Chinese doctors use the root in herbal preparations to enhance vitality and balance energy flow.

In ancient China, there was a legend of an elderly man named Mr. He, who was lost in the forest. In order to sustain himself, he lived on the root of the common wild vine Polygonum multiflorum. Years later, the old man's hair had turned from white to black. Since then, the herb was called He Shou Wu, which means 'Mr. He's black hair'.

Although Mr. He's story is a legend, written evidence about the benefits of He Shou Wu emerged during 730 AD and it remains one of the most commonly used herbs in China today.

He Shou Wu in Modern Society

Traditional Chinese Medicine states that black and glossy hair is a reflection of healthy liver and kidney functions. It is believed that weak kidney and liver causes grey hair and other signs of premature ageing.  He Shou Wu helps promote healthy liver and kidney functions to boost blood circulation and delivers nutrients and oxygen to the scalp and hair follicles, effectively reducing hair problems like thinning hair, premature hair greying, dry or oily hair, itchy scalp, alopecia areata (balding), alopecia totalis (total loss of head hair), seborrheic alopecia, hair loss after illness and postnatal hair loss due to hormonal imbalance.

Benefits of He Shou Wu

• Supplies nutrients to nourish the scalp and hair follicles from within
• Restores and maintains black, silky and healthy hair
• Reduces hair and scalp problems like premature hair greying, hair loss, and thinning/dry/oily hair