(Zhi) He Shou Wu 何首烏 (Sheng He Shou Wu) - Radix Polygoni Multiflori
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Polygoni Multiflori (Preparata) |
| Common English: | Chinese Cornbind Climbing Knotwood Fleeceflower Root Flowery Knotweed Root Fo Ti |
Category
Herbs that Tonify BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sweet Astringent | Slightly Warm | Liver Kidney (Heart) | 9-30g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, nourishes the Blood and nourishes Jing (Zhi He Shou Wu) | Blood Deficiency with dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia and premature graying of the hair Yin Deficiency with lower back and knee weakness and pain, soreness of the extremities, nocturnal emissions and insomnia Jing Deficiency |
Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing the Blood (Zhi He Shou Wu) | Wind-Rash due to Blood Deficiency |
Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (Sheng He Shou Wu) | Constipation due to Blood Deficiency |
Relieves Fire Toxin (Sheng He Shou Wu) | Fire toxin carbuncles, sores, scrofula, goiter and neck lumps (Chuang Yung) |
Checks malarial disorders (Sheng He Shou Wu) | Malarial disorders with Qi and Blood Deficiency |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Fr. Lycii | Hb. Taxilli | Hb Siegesbeckiae |
Weak and sore back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, and premature graying of hair due to Kidney and Liver Deficiency. | Dizziness, blurred vision, and numbness of the extremities due to Liver Blood Deficiency. | Dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and achy, numb extremities due to Kidney and Liver Deficiency. |
| Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Irregular menstruation and uterine bleeding from exhausted Liver and Kidneys. | Itching due to Wind-Rash due to Blood Deficiency. | Constipation due to dry Intestines from Blood Deficiency. |
| Rx. Scrophulariae | Rx. Saposhnikoviae | Spica Prunellae |
Scrofula, abscesses, and other toxic swellings. | Damp-Heat Wind toxin with pus pockets all over the body that seep yellow fluid. | Scrofula. |
Rx. Ginseng | Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Turtle Blood |
Chronic malarial disorders and physical debility. | Malaria. | Chronic malarial disorder with Yin and Blood Deficiency with more fever than chills. |
Rx. Ginseng | Hb. Taxilli | |
Longevity. | Tonifies Kidney Yin and Liver Blood to nourish the sinews and bones and treat dizziness and blurred vision. Numbness of the extremities associated with Liver Blood Deficiency. |
Notes
- It is widely used because it tonifies and preserves without being cold, drying or overly cloying.
- On its own, it can serve as a longevity tonic.
- It counteracts the immune-suppressing effect of prednisone.
- It ranks among the best-known tonics.
- It helps keep the hair black.
- Being astringent, it prevents the leakage of Jing.
- It is noted for its restorative effects on the urogenital, muscular and nervous systems.
- More recently, it has been recognized for successfully treating chronic cerebral insufficiency conditions ranging from sleep disorders to depression and schizophrenia.
- Unprepared Fleeceflower Root Sheng He Shou Wu does not tonify; instead it discharges, moistens and disperses, and is used for malarial disorders, all kinds of sores and abscesses, and constipation.
- He Shou Wu and Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang both nourish Blood, enrich Yin and tonify the Kidneys and Liver. He Shou Wu mainly enters the Liver to regulate and tonify the Blood, and secondarily enriches Kidney Yin and astringes Jing. Shu Di Huang enters the Kidneys to augment Jing and marrow and powerfully tonify true Yin, and secondarily nourishes Blood and tonifies the Liver. Sheng Di Huang cools the Blood, whereas Sheng He Shou Wu treats malarial disorders, resolves toxicity and moistens the Intestines.
- He Shou Wu and Colla Corii Asini E Jiao both nourish Blood. He Shou Wu enters the Liver, tonifying Blood to expel Wind and blackening the hair and beard, whereas E Jiao nourishes Blood, moistens Dryness, nourishes the Lungs and expels Heat.
- Fresh Fleeceflower root Xian He Shou Wu resembles Sheng He Shou Wu but is stronger.
- Raw Sheng He Shou Wu is bitter, sweet and astringent, neutral in temperature, and enters the Liver, Heart and Large Intestine; its dosage is 9-30g.
From Class
- He Shou Wu: Chosen over goji for floaters: nourishes blood, treats fire toxins, travels upward (hair, eyes) — like LV-8; 6 g. (Yuen)
- He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum, fo-ti): Builds marrow; used during the AIDS era for low red and white counts / immune compromise. (Yuen)
- He Shou Wu / Sang Shen (liver blood tonics): If liver blood isn't engendering heart qi, choose blood tonics that go to the liver specifically. (Peck)
- Yuan Zhi (Polygala) / He Shou Wu 30–60 g: To strengthen the will to live (suicidal, depressed, dying): Yuan Zhi ('far-reaching will'), and He Shou Wu at 30–60 g nourishes blood and willpower. (Yuen)