He Shou Wu: FAQs

Ever heard of he shou wu? It’s sometimes called foti or fo-ti in America, and it’s commonly used in Chinese traditional medicine for a variety of purported benefits. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this Chinese herb, answered.

What Is He Shou Wu in the First Place?

He shou wu (which literally means “black-haired Mr. He”) is a traditional herbal medicine produced from the Thunb plant, polygonum multiflorum. The plant is also sometimes referred to as Chinese knotweed and is a type of vine.

The leaves, roots and tubers of this plant are collected, dried, and then sometimes combined with other ingredients to create this herbal blend, which is purported to offer a wide-ranging suite of potential benefits

What Is He Shou Wu Used for?

In accordance with traditional Chinese medicine, there are many uses for, and benefits of, he shou wu.

It is believed to possess anti-aging effects, and one of its main alleged benefits is that it may be effective at promoting hair health, specifically by forestalling hair loss and graying.

In addition to this, there are some that believe that it has certain other health benefits and it may have cardioprotective benefits; some even say that it is good for treating constipation

More research is needed, but there are some studies that suggest that this herbal medicine may have anti-inflammatory properties. It may even possess antibacterial and antitumor properties.

In addition to these, there are many other potential benefits attributed to this herbal tonic, including that it may be effective at protecting the liver, encouraging health circulation, boosting fertility, and even providing immunoprotective benefits.

Does It Uplift the Mood?

One of the potential benefits of he shou wu extract is that it may positively affect the mindset and encourage a healthier, uplifted mood. While more research is necessary to test this, it is one of the most-often cited potential benefits of the supplement.

Does He Shou Wu Support Cognitive Health?

He shou wu may support neural regeneration, so it may be effective at safeguarding cognitive function. Another one of its purported benefits is to support healthy energy production. As in other areas, more research is needed to ascertain these effects.

How Much Should You Take?

While there is no standard accepted dosage or dosage frequency, we recommend taking it one to two times per day, in ½ teaspoon (1 gram) doses.

Does It Increase Testosterone?

One of the purported benefits of he shou wu is that it can boost testosterone, which may be linked to the claims that it can improve youthfulness and virility. More studies are needed regarding its effectiveness in human subjects, but some studies show that it can boost testosterone production in animal cells, so there may be some promise to these claims..

Does It Regrow Hair?

One of the most commonly invoked potential benefits of this herbal remedy is that it can help prevent hair loss, even encourage hair growth. There actually are some studies to corroborate this claim.

Notably, studies suggest that he shou wu extract may support hair growth by promoting the anagen of human hair follicles while inhibiting categen entry. In other words, it may stimulate hair follicle development and support healthy hair.  

It may also be the case that this herbal remedy improves hair growth by increasing melanin production, leading to fuller, thicker hair while also supporting healthy hair follicles. This may also help combat premature graying - a nod to the traditional name.

How to Take He Shou Wu?

Our he shou wu is mild enough that you can take it directly by mouth if you wish, but the easiest way to take it is to mix a half teaspoon (one gram) in water, tea, or your other favorite beverage. If you find the taste too bitter, you can add it to other foods to mask the flavor while ensuring you get the proper therapeutic supplemental dose.

Many of our customers (read our reviews) comment on the mild taste of our extract, which is a bonus as some find the taste of this herbal supplement too powerful, bitter or distasteful.

How Is It Made?

We make our he shou wu supplement according to the traditional method - that is, we simmer our extract in black beans to render it easier to digest, before concentrating it into a 16:1 extract.

Is There Anything Else in This He Shou Wu Blend?

Unlike many of our other clean supplements, this one is not a mix, it’s just a 16:1 he shou wu extract.

Still Have Questions About He Shou Wu?

Still have questions about this traditional Chinese herbal supplement that you didn’t see answered in this post? Feel free to reach out to us at Hello@RawRevelations.com if you have any questions and we will be more than happy to help.