\

            Dr. Pan's Clinic of TCM

HE SHOU WU

                                        (Zhi He Shou Wu pictured)

                                       also called Fo Ti

                               Radix Polygonum Multiflorum

                  Fleeceflower Root, Flowery Knotwood Root

He Shou Wu gained its name and fame by returning black hair colour and sexual virulence to Mr. He, an older man, and of maintaining his youth into his mid-hundreds in a well-known story from ninth-century China. The name actually means “Crow-black haired [Mr.] He”.

Another man, Professor Li Chung Yun (or Li Ch’ing Yun) purportedly lived to the young age of 256 years, dying in 1933, though his age has not been verified. He claimed He Shou Wu, Ren Shen (ginseng) and his creed “Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog” were the secrets to his longevity.

Preparation of He Shou Wu:

Sheng (raw): the tuberous roots are dug in spring or autumn, cleaned and cut into slices then dried in the sun.

 Zhi (prepared): pieces of the cleaned raw root are mixed with yellow rice wine and black bean juice, made by boiling black beans for several hours. This mixture is then double-boiled or steamed in a non-metallic container until all liquid has been absorbed by the roots.

Zhi (prepared) He Shou Wu is the common form of this herb referred to in literature and this paper. Sheng He Shou Wu is specifically named when it is referred to.  

Preparation of He Shou Wu creates a, rich, sweet, warm and slightly astringent property that works with the Lower Jiao function of closing and preserving. It enables the herb to tonify and nourish. This condenses Yin and Yang and brings them into more balance by augmenting and replenishing Essential Qi.

Properties:

Zhi: Astringent and slightly warm.  Taste: Bitter and sweet

Sheng: Astringent, neutral.  Taste: Bitter, sweet

Meridians:

Zhi: Liver and Kidney

Sheng: Liver, Heart, Large Intestine

Functions:

Zhi: Nourish blood and yin, preserve the essence.

Sheng: Moisten the intestines and move stool. Release toxins.

Indications:

Zhi: Deficient blood syndrome manifested as sallow complexion, dizziness, vertigo, insomnia, premature graying of hair, soreness and weakness in the lumbar region and knees.

Wind rash due to blood deficiency.

Sheng: Constipation due to dryness in the intestines (blood deficiency).

Chronic malaria due to weakness of the body (qi and blood deficiency).

Scrofula, goiters, carbuncles, sores due to fire toxicity.

Dosage:  9-30g

Cautions and Contra-indications: This herb is contraindicated in cases of severe phlegm- damp or diarrhea.

Commentary: The Grand Materia Medica states:

This substance is warm, bitter and astringent: its bitterness tonifies the Kidneys, its warmth tonifies the Liver, and its astringency retains and inhibits the essential Qi. Thus, it nourishes the blood to augment the Liver and secures the essence to augment the Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones, and blackens the beard and hair, making it a fine herb for enriching and tonifying! It is not cold or drying, and its effects are superior to those of Rehmanniae Radix (di Haung) or Asparagi Radix (Tian Men Dong) [because of these attributes].

Known Chemical Components:

Approximately 1.1 % of the plant is comprised of active ingredients as follows:

Glycosides:

Polygonimitin B and C (Stilbene glycoside)

Rhaphantin

Anthraquinones:

Chrysophenol

Chrysophenol Anthrone

Emotin or Emodin

Emodin Methyl Esther

Emodin Monoethylether

Emodin-1,6 Dimethylether

Emodin-8-beta-D-Glucoside

2-Acetylemodin

Physcion

Physcion-8-0-beta-D-Glucoside

Questin

Questinol

Citreorosein

2-Methyl-6-Acetyl-7-Methyljugione

Rhein

b- sitosterol

Lectin (a protein-sugar complex)

Flavanoids:

Tricin

Quercetin-3-0-Galacticide

Quercetin-3-0- Arabinoside

Tannins:

Gallic Acid

Catechin

Epicatechin

3-0-Galloyl (-) Catechin

3-0-Galloyl (-) Epicatechin

Amines:

N-trans-feruloyltyramine

N-trans-feruloyl-3-methyldopamine

Lecithin

Modern Medicine:

He Shou Wu is used orally for treating lymph node tuberculosis, cancer, constipation, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, neurosis, neurasthenia, insomnia, limb numbness, lower back and knee soreness or weakness, premature graying, dizziness with tinnitus, poor memory and to restore from exhaustion.
 

Topically, Sheng He Shou Wu is applied to treat skin conditions such as sores, carbuncles, skin eruptions, and itching, acne, athlete’s foot, dermatitis, razor burn, and scrapes. It has mild antibacterial and antifungal effects and seems to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Zhi He Shou Wu contains smaller amounts of anthraquinones than Sheng He Shou Wu but other chemicals may be concentrated during processing. Zhi He Shou Wu contains sugar- binding proteins known as lectins. Because they attach to specific arrangements of carbohydrates on bacterial cells in the body, lectins act like antibodies, but they do not cause allergy symptoms.  

Hypercholesterolemia is commonly treated with Zhi He Shou Wu and reports state that it has a 62 to 82% effective rate. Cholesterol levels may rise again after administration of the herb has finished.  Lecithin blocks cholesterol uptake from the plasma into the liver, keeping the arterial walls from being coated with cholesterol plaques (accumulations of fat and other cells that restrict the size of blood vessels and limit the flexibility of their walls).

 The lectins affect fat levels in the blood, helping to prevent or delay heart disease by blocking the formation of plaques in blood vessels. In animal studies, Zhi He Shou Wu reduced the amount of fat that deposited in the liver. The intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol is reduced by this herb thereby lowering plasma cholesterol levels.

Both Sheng and Zhi He Shou Wu have been shown in animal and human studies to lower blood levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise the levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It is believed that antioxidant effects are also involved.

Anthraquinone and its derivatives are a group of natural stimulant laxatives present in plants as glycosides. They are frequently found in slimming agents and have been valued for their cathartic and presumed detoxifying action. Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, can increase peristalsis in the large intestine, producing a laxative effect. Other properties observed are antibacterial activity and reduction of heart rate to slightly increase the coronary circulation.

Emodin is a strong inhibitor of a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) called p561lck, and several sirene/ threonine protein kinases. These kinases are part of the immune response signal transduction pathway. They affect protein function by phosphorylation, which adds enzymes essential in the signal transduction within lymphocytes. These enzymes and their phosphorylation inform the B and T lymphocytes that an antigen receptor is occupied, which would normally trigger an immune response, with proliferation and differentiation of eukaryotic cells. Emodin has been determined to be a selective inhibitor, competitively binding to the ATP binding site and inhibiting this transduction function.

Use of Sheng He Shou Wu to improve memory and use of He Shou Wu as an anti-aging tonic are supported by animal studies and numerous human case reports from China where it has been used for these purposes for centuries.

A recent chemical analysis revealed that He Shou Wu possesses measurable amounts of activity that is similar to the female hormone, estrogen. Estrogen-like effects may help to relieve the symptoms of menopause.

Cautions and Contraindications

Sheng He Shou Wu’s mechanism is irritation of the gastrointestinal tract lining. For most individuals this irritation is minor. Individuals who have inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome should not use Sheng He Shou Wu.

The potential effects of either form of He Shou Wu on the liver make its use inadvisable for individuals with serious liver conditions.

The use of He Shou Wu is not recommended for women who are pregnant. Breast-feeding women should also avoid He Shou Wu, which is known to enter breast milk and may cause diarrhea in the infant.

Individuals who have unexplained abdominal or stomach pain may have conditions that could be worsened by taking Sheng He Shou Wu, therefore should be avoided.

This herb is relatively non-toxic. Diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort are common side-effects, and in severe cases, may result in dehydration.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bensky, Dan et al. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica 3^rd Edition.

Seattle: Eastland Press.

Fu Keung Li, et al. (2004). Aggravation of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug- induced hepatitis and acute renal failure by slimming drugs containing anthraquinones. Retrieved April 8, 2006, from Oxford Journals’ Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2004) Vol. 19, No.7, Pp. 1916-1917.

Website: http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/vol19/issue7/index.dtl

Geng Junying et al (1998). Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine & Pharmacology. Beijing: New World Press.

Kee Chang Huang (1999). The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs Second Edition.

Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press LLC.

Knight, Juli.  Fo-Ti-(Polygonum multiflorum) He shou wu or Shou wu chih. Retrieved April 10, 2006 from About: Health And Fitness: Healthy Herbs.

Website: http://healthyherbs.about.com/cs/chinesepharmacop/p/pffoti.htm

Koonchanok, Jayasuriya H. et al. (1992) Emodin, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor from Polygonum cuspidatum. Journal of Natural Products 1992 May;55(5):696-8. Retrieved April10, 2006 from Pub Med. PMID: 1517743

Website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

Lucas, Richard (1981). Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists.

West Nyack, N.Y: Parker Publishing Co.

Nairn, Roderick and Helbert, Matthew. (2002). Immunology for Medical Students.

New York, (Mosby) Elsevier Ltd.

Yim, H. et al. (1999). Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative isolated from the rhizomes of Rheum palmatum, selectively inhibits the activity of casein kinase II as a competitive inhibitor. Planta Medica 1999 Feb;65(1);9-13 Retrieved from Pub Med.

Website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

 Author unknown. Retrieved April 8, 2004 from Health Information Organization.

Website: http://tcm.health-info.org/Herbology.Materia.Medica/heshouwu-properties.htm

Author unknown, He Shou Wu. Retrieved April 9, 2006 from Drug Digest.org.

Website:http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,4110%7CHe+Shou+Wu,00.html

Last modified: 12/13/10