Hé Shǒu Wū (何首乌), known in English as Fo-ti root (Polygonum multiflorum), is a warm, bitter, sweet and astringent Chinese herb from the Tonify blood category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: nourishes Blood and Jing — Liver and Kidney (prepared form).
| Pinyin | Hé Shǒu Wū (He Shou Wu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 何首乌 |
| English | Fo-ti root |
| Botanical name | Polygonum multiflorum |
| Category | Tonify blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet, Astringent |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Diarrhoea; Phlegm-Damp; hepatotoxic in overdose — monitor LFTs with long-term use |
Actions
- Nourishes Blood and Jing — Liver and Kidney (prepared form)
- Astringes Jing, stops spermatorrhoea (prepared)
- Unblocks bowels, expels toxicity (raw form)
Indications
- Liver and Kidney Blood/Jing deficiency: greying hair, dizziness, weakness of knees
- Constipation, carbuncles (raw)
How to remember Hé Shǒu Wū
Tonify blood herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Liver, Spleen, Heart and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Sweet: like most Tonify blood herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Nourishes Blood and Jing — Liver and Kidney (prepared form)”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are sweet)
- Astringent: unusual for Tonify blood herbs (most are sweet)
Other Tonify blood herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hé Shǒu Wū?
Hé Shǒu Wū is warm and bitter, sweet and astringent.
Which channels does Hé Shǒu Wū enter?
Hé Shǒu Wū enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Hé Shǒu Wū?
Nourishes Blood and Jing — Liver and Kidney (prepared form); Astringes Jing, stops spermatorrhoea (prepared); Unblocks bowels, expels toxicity (raw form).
What is Hé Shǒu Wū used for?
Liver and Kidney Blood/Jing deficiency: greying hair, dizziness, weakness of knees; constipation, carbuncles (raw).
Practise Hé Shǒu Wū and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.