Heshouwu (Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb)

He Shou Wu何首乌 (Pleuropterus multiflorus (Thunb.) Nakai), also known as Ye Jiao Teng, Zi Wu Teng, Duo Hua Liao, and Jiu Zhen Teng, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Polygonaceae family. Its tuberous roots are long and elliptical, dark brown in color; the stems are twining; the leaves are ovate or long-ovate with a pointed tip and a heart-shaped or near-heart-shaped base; the inflorescences are panicle-like, either terminal or axillary, with white or pale green perianths, and the perianth segments are elliptical. The achenes are ovate, three-angled, and dark brown. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

He Shou Wu typically grows in valleys, thickets, forest understories, and crevices at altitudes ranging from 200 to 3,000 meters. It thrives in warm, humid climates, tolerates shade, and dislikes drought and waterlogging. It is highly adaptable to its environment, preferring deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich, moist, and well-drained sandy soil. He Shou Wu is native to China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has since been introduced to Japan, Korea, and the Caucasus region. In China, it is primarily distributed in southern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, East China, Central China, and South China.

The tuberous roots and leaves of He Shou Wu can be used as traditional Chinese medicine. The roots are known for nourishing the blood, replenishing yin, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. They are used to treat symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, soreness in the waist and knees, premature graying of hair, tinnitus, and nocturnal emissions. The leaves have detoxifying properties, can dissolve nodules, kill parasites, and relieve itching, and are used to treat ulcers, scabies, and other skin conditions. He Shou Wu has long, vigorous vines and can be planted along walls or rocks. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its attractive appearance.

In the culinary field, He Shou Wu can be made into various medicinal dishes and health products. It is also commonly used in cosmetics for hair care, including promoting hair growth. The tuberous roots can be used to produce starch or brewed into wine, and the filtrate can be developed into a natural insecticide.

Other Names: Shou Wu, Di Jing, Chi Lian, Chen Zhi Bai, Hong Nei Xiao, Ma Gan Shi, Chuang Zhou, Shan Nu, Shan Ge, Shan Bo, Shan Weng, Shan Jing, Ye Jiao Teng Gen, Huang Hua Wu Gen, Xue Wa Wa, Xiao Du Gen, Tian Zhu Tou, Tie Cheng Tuo, Chi Shou Wu, Shan Shou Wu, Yao Shou Wu, He Xiang Gong.

Properties and Channels: Bitter, sweet, astringent in taste; slightly warm in nature; enters the liver and kidney channels.

Functions: Processed: Tonifies essence and blood; Raw: Detoxifies, stops malaria, and moistens the intestines to relieve constipation.

Indications:

1. Essence and blood deficiency, dizziness, premature graying of hair, soreness in the waist and knees: Processed He Shou Wu is good for tonifying the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and blood, and darkening the hair.
2. Prolonged malaria, abscesses, scrofula, dry intestines, and constipation: Raw He Shou Wu has effects on stopping malaria, detoxifying, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation.

Related Formulas:

1. To treat blood deficiency, pallor, insomnia, and forgetfulness, it is often used with prepared Rehmannia, Angelica sinensis, and Ziziphus jujuba seeds.
2. To treat essence and blood deficiency, soreness in the waist and legs, dizziness, premature graying of hair, and infertility due to kidney deficiency, it is used with Angelica sinensis, wolfberry fruit, and Cuscuta chinensis seeds, such as in Qibao Meiran Dan (from “Jishan Tang Fang”).
3. To treat liver and kidney deficiency, soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and deafness, it is often combined with mulberry fruit, black sesame seeds, and Eucommia ulmoides, as in Shou Wu Yan Shou Dan (from “Shi Bu Zhai Yi Shu”).
4. To treat prolonged malaria with qi and blood deficiency, raw He Shou Wu can be used with ginseng, Angelica sinensis, tangerine peel, and ginger, as in He Ren Yin (from “Jingyue Quanshu”).
5. To treat scrofula, ulcers, and skin itching, it can be combined with self-heal, Fritillaria thunbergii, and Angelica sinensis (from “Bencao Huiyan”).
6. To treat generalized swelling, itching, and pain, it can be decocted with fangfeng, Sophora flavescens, and peppermint, as in Shou Wu San (from “Wai Ke Jing Yao”).
7. To treat constipation in the elderly and those with blood deficiency and dry intestines, it can be combined with Cistanche, Angelica sinensis, and hemp seed to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation.

Flowers and Fruits: The inflorescence is cone-shaped, terminal or axillary, 10-20 cm long, with spreading branches, fine longitudinal ridges, and covered with small protrusions along the ridges. The bracts are triangular-ovate with small protrusions, pointed tips, and each bract contains 2-4 flowers. The flower stalks are slender and weak, 2-3 mm long, with joints at the lower part, extending during fruiting. The perianth is deeply 5-lobed, white or pale green, with the perianth segments being elliptical, unequal in size, the outer three segments larger with wings on the back, enlarging during fruiting, and the perianth becoming nearly round with a diameter of 6-7 mm. There are 8 stamens, with the filaments being wider at the base. The ovary has 3 very short styles with a capitate stigma. The achenes are ovate, three-angled, 2.5-3 mm long, shiny dark brown, enclosed in the persistent perianth.

Distribution: He Shou Wu is native to China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has been introduced to Japan, Korea, and the Caucasus region. In China, it is primarily distributed in southern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, East China, Central China, South China, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou.

Growing Environment: He Shou Wu grows wild in shrublands, hills, slopes, forest edges, or roadside embankments, commonly found in valleys, forest understories, and crevices at altitudes ranging from 200 to 3,000 meters.

Growing Habits: He Shou Wu prefers a warm, humid climate, tolerates shade, and dislikes drought and waterlogging. The ideal temperature for seed germination is 20-25°C. It is highly adaptable to its environment and thrives in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich, moist, and well-drained sandy soils. Excessive rainfall or waterlogged fields can lead to poor growth or root rot. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

Precautions: Use with caution in cases of diarrhea and phlegm dampness. Avoid using iron utensils.

Dosage and Administration:

• Internal Use: Decoction, 10-20 g; can be prepared into pills, powders, or tinctures.
• External Use: Apply as needed, using the decoction for washing, powdered form for sprinkling, or mixed with other substances for topical application.

For blood tonification and yin nourishment, use processed He Shou Wu. For intestinal lubrication, wind-dispelling, malaria treatment, and detoxification, use raw He Shou Wu.

Harvesting and Processing: Harvest the tuberous roots after the stems and leaves wither in autumn or before new shoots emerge the following year. Remove the ends, clean, slice, and dry or lightly roast to produce raw He Shou Wu. If steamed with black beans and then dried, it turns black and is called processed He Shou Wu.