HE SHOU WU • FO-TI • POLYGONUM MULTIFLORUM
BOTANICAL GUIDE • HYBRID HERBS
MEET THE BOTANICAL
He Shou Wu is the root of Polygonum multiflorum, a climbing plant native to parts of China and East Asia. Also widely known as Fo-Ti, the root has a long history of use within traditional Chinese herbalism.
An important distinction is that He Shou Wu traditionally appears in two forms: the raw root, known as Sheng He Shou Wu, and the prepared root, known as Zhi He Shou Wu. These are regarded as distinct preparations within Chinese herbal tradition rather than simply interchangeable versions of the same ingredient.
At Hybrid Herbs, we use prepared He Shou Wu, traditionally processed with black beans before being made into a concentrated extract.
AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
One of the most important things to understand about He Shou Wu is that raw and prepared root are not traditionally treated as the same herbal preparation. Chinese herbalism distinguishes between Sheng He Shou Wu — the raw root — and Zhi He Shou Wu — the traditionally prepared root.
SHENG HE SHOU WU
Sheng He Shou Wu refers to the unprepared root of Polygonum multiflorum. Within traditional Chinese herbal practice, the raw form is considered a distinct preparation with different traditional applications from the prepared root.
ZHI HE SHOU WU
Zhi He Shou Wu is the prepared form of the root. Traditionally, He Shou Wu is processed with black beans before being dried and used. This preparation changes the root’s appearance and has long been regarded as an important distinction within Chinese herbal practice.
THE TRADITIONAL PREPARATION
Prepared He Shou Wu — known as Zhi He Shou Wu — is traditionally produced by processing the root with black beans. This is not simply a modern manufacturing step; preparation has long formed part of how He Shou Wu is distinguished and used within Chinese herbal tradition.
Traditional methods involve combining sliced He Shou Wu root with a preparation of black beans before heating or steaming and subsequently drying the root. The process produces the characteristically dark prepared root associated with Zhi He Shou Wu.
Preparation is particularly important when identifying He Shou Wu products because ‘He Shou Wu’ or ‘Fo-Ti’ alone does not necessarily tell you whether the ingredient is raw or prepared.
Polygonum multiflorum root is harvested and prepared for processing.
The root is traditionally processed with black beans using heat.
The prepared root is dried, producing the characteristic dark appearance of Zhi He Shou Wu.
Our He Shou Wu extract begins with traditionally prepared Zhi He Shou Wu.
ROOTED IN TRADITION
He Shou Wu has a long history within Chinese herbal tradition, where the root of Polygonum multiflorum has been documented and prepared for generations.
Over time, He Shou Wu became surrounded by stories of longevity and vitality. One of the best-known traditional legends tells of an elderly man named He who was said to have restored his dark hair after using the root — a story often associated with the origin of the name ‘He Shou Wu’.
These accounts belong to the folklore and traditional history surrounding the herb rather than modern clinical evidence, but they remain an interesting part of how He Shou Wu became one of the better-known botanicals in traditional Chinese herbalism.
THE LEGEND OF HE SHOU WU
He Shou Wu is commonly translated as ‘Mr He’s dark hair’ — a name connected to one of the herb’s best-known traditional legends.
Traditional accounts are included for historical and cultural context and should not be interpreted as evidence of health effects.
UNDERSTANDING EXTRACTS
He Shou Wu can be found in several forms, from pieces of traditionally prepared root to simple powders and concentrated extracts. At Hybrid Herbs, we use traditionally prepared Zhi He Shou Wu to produce a concentrated 10:1 extract powder.
The process begins with Zhi He Shou Wu — He Shou Wu root that has undergone its traditional preparation with black beans.
The prepared botanical material is extracted and concentrated rather than simply being milled into a powdered root.
The resulting concentrated extract is dried into a fine powder, making it easy to measure and incorporate into drinks or other preparations.
A 10:1 extract ratio describes the relationship between the amount of starting botanical material and the resulting extract during manufacture. It should not be interpreted as meaning that every gram of extract is automatically equivalent to exactly 10 grams of root in terms of biological or clinical effect.
Our approach: prepared Zhi He Shou Wu • concentrated extract • fine powder
TRADITION MEETS RESEARCH
He Shou Wu has attracted modern scientific interest because of its long history of traditional use and its naturally occurring plant compounds. Research has investigated the chemistry and biological activity of Polygonum multiflorum and its prepared forms, but the strength of evidence varies considerably.
Much of the published research consists of laboratory, chemical and preclinical studies rather than large, high-quality human clinical trials. For this reason, traditional uses and early research findings should not be interpreted as established health benefits.
A SIMPLE DAILY RITUAL
Keep it simple by stirring the extract into warm water.
Mix with warm plant milk for a smooth, earthy botanical drink.
Add to smoothies, cacao or other botanical blends as part of your routine.
Traditionally prepared Zhi He Shou Wu, made into a convenient 10:1 extract powder.
For serving information, follow the directions provided with your Hybrid Herbs He Shou Wu.
GOOD TO KNOW
FURTHER READING
Our guides are designed to distinguish traditional knowledge from modern scientific evidence. Explore selected research covering Polygonum multiflorum, traditional processing, phytochemistry and contemporary scientific investigation.
Liu Y, Wang Q, Yang J, Guo X, Liu W, Ma S & Li S
Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2018 · Volume 9:364
Source information
Journal of Ethnopharmacology · Review article
Liang L, Xu J, Zhou W-W, Brand E, Chen H-B & Zhao Z-Z
Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2018 · Volume 9:934
Chen W, Wang P, Chen H, Xing Y, Liu C, Pan G, Dou Z & Han L
Phytochemical Analysis · 2021 · 32(5):767–779
Source information
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2020
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · NCBI Bookshelf
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Research into botanical ingredients continues to evolve. Laboratory, preclinical and traditional evidence should not be interpreted as established clinical effects in humans.
FROM GUIDE TO DAILY RITUAL