He Shou Wu is the root of fleeceflower, recorded as Radix Polygoni Multiflori. It is bitter, sweet and astringent in flavour, slightly warm, and enters the Heart, Liver and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Blood.

Pinyin

he shou wu

Latin Name

Radix Polygoni Multiflora

English Name

Fleeceflower Root

Japanese

shokashu

Korean

saenghasuo

Actions and indications

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and nourishes Blood and Jing (prepared, Zhi He Shou Wu)

Deficient Blood: dizziness, blurred vision, poor sleep, hair greying early
Deficient Yin: weak, painful lower back and knees, aching limbs, insomnia and nocturnal emissions
Jing deficiency
Leakage such as nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge, which its astringency checks without being cloying

Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing Blood (prepared)

Wind rash or itching arising from Blood deficiency or Blood dryness

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (raw, Sheng He Shou Wu)

Dry constipation from Blood deficiency, including in weak or elderly people

Resolves Fire toxin and reduces nodules (raw)

Carbuncles, sores and abscesses, scrofula, goiter and lumps in the neck (Chuang Yong), particularly where the Blood is too weak to support healing

Checks malaria (raw)

Malarial disorders with deficient Qi and Blood

Combinations

gou qi zi + bu gu zhi + tu si zi

Liver and Kidney Deficiency with sore, weak knees and back, blurred vision, dizziness, early graying of the hair, vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea

sang ji sheng + nu zhen zi + huai niu xi

Liver Blood Deficiency with numb limbs, blurred vision and dizziness

xi xian cao + sang shen + du zhong

Deficient Liver and Kidneys causing tinnitus, dizziness, blurred vision and aching, numb limbs

dang gui + bai shao

Depleted Liver and Kidneys with uterine bleeding and irregular periods

ku shen + bai xian pi + jing jie

Blood Deficiency with an itchy Wind rash

dang gui + hei zhi ma

Blood Deficiency drying the Intestines, causing constipation

xuan shen + lian qiao

Abscesses, scrofula and other toxic swellings

fang feng + jin yin hua + ku shen

Damp-Heat and Wind toxin with pustules across the whole body oozing yellow fluid

xia ku cao + chuan xiong

Scrofula.

ren shen + dang gui + chen pi

Long-standing malarial disorder with bodily debility

gan cao

Malaria.

turtle blood

Yin and Blood Deficiency in chronic malarial disorder, where fever outweighs chills

ren shen + shan yao + gou qi zi + shu di huang + ling zhi + chuan xiong

Longevity.

sang ji sheng

Blurred vision and dizziness: tonifies Liver Blood and Kidney Yin, nourishing bone and sinew; numb limbs from Liver Blood Deficiency

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-30g; Tincture: 2-4ml

9-30 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Spleen deficiency

contraindication Phlegm or Damp

contraindication Loose stools or diarrhea, which the laxative raw root especially can worsen

caution Avoid onions, chives, turnips and garlic while taking it

caution Do not use once it has been in contact with metal

caution Carries a documented risk of unpredictable (idiosyncratic) liver injury: take care with large doses, long courses, the raw form, or other liver-stressing agents, and check liver function

Interactions

Caution with

gan jiang Avoid pairing with hot, drying herbs such as Gan Jiang (dried ginger)
rou gui Avoid pairing with hot, drying herbs such as Rou Gui (cinnamon bark)
xian mao Avoid pairing with hot, drying herbs such as Xian Mao (Curculigo)
zhi fu zi Avoid pairing with hot, drying herbs such as Zhi Fu Zi (prepared aconite)

Drug interactions

Medicines and substances that burden the liver, such as methotrexate, isoniazid, statins, azole antifungals, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and alcohol: avoid combining, and monitor liver function during use
Stimulant laxatives: its anthraquinones loosen the bowels and may add to their effect

Prepared forms (1)

he shou wu Zhi

制何首乌·Radix Polygoni Multiflora Preparata

Zhi he shou wu (制何首乌) is the processed form of he shou wu, the root of fleeceflower, a Polygonaceae vine supplied as Radix Polygoni Multiflori Praeparata. The catalogue files it among the substances that tonify Blood, on the Liver and Kidney channels.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows he shou wu.

he shou wu

About he shou wu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and nourishes Blood and Jing (prepared, Zhi He Shou Wu)

Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing Blood (prepared)

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (raw, Sheng He Shou Wu)

Resolves Fire toxin and reduces nodules (raw)

Checks malaria (raw)

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Caution with

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

he shou wu Zhi

About he shou wu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and nourishes Blood and Jing (prepared, Zhi He Shou Wu)

Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing Blood (prepared)

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (raw, Sheng He Shou Wu)

Resolves Fire toxin and reduces nodules (raw)

Checks malaria (raw)

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Caution with

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

he shou wu Zhi

Related

Prepared forms

Used in 3 formulas