Specifications

Polygonum multiflorum :

1.Pharmaceutical name:Radix Polygoni Multiflori

2.Latin botanical name:Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.Cynanchum Welfordii Hemsl. (The variety found in Korea )

3.Common Namefleece flower root, fo-ti (a made up name in Hawaii, for commercial purposes)

4.Properties (characteristics):sheng shou wu (raw): astringent with some sweetness, mildly warm.sheng shou wu (raw):bitter and with some sweetness, neutral.

5.Channels (meridians) entered:zhi shou wu (prepared): enters liver and kidney channels.sheng shou wu (raw): enters liver, heart and large intestine channels.

6.Actions & IndicationsFor yin deficiency or blood deficiency, treatment of hyperlipemia, neurasthenia, split personality, premature white hair, nerve injuries, skin wind rash,   and constipation. For relieve of heat toxicity (re du), treatment of eczema, sores, carbuncles, goiter, scrofula and inflammation of lymph nodes.

Secure essence (jing), treatment of spermatorrhea, vagina discharge, vulvovaginitis.

For qi deficiency (qixu) and blood deficency, treatment of chronic malaria.

Leaves (ye jiao teng) for external use on boils to expel pus.

Ye jiao teng can be used in decoction for calming effect.

7.Medical Functionanti aging, improving immune system, alleviating serum cholesterol, reversing hardening of arteries, improving bowel movements, stimulating adrenal cortex, regulate epinephrine and norepenephrine, regulate blood sugar, protecting liver function, improving the development of red blood cells, inhibiting TB, diarrhea, influenza.

8.Modern Research:

1)        He shou wu powder can lower the blood cholesterol, triglyceride, β- lipoprotein (LDL) of high lipid animals. They were lowered by 89%, 42%, and 54% respectively. The triglyceride of the liver was lowered by 52%.

2)        The ingredient of he shou wu, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystibene-2O-b-D-glucoside possesses a strong inhibiting effect on fatty liver formation, and liver damage of rats caused by oxidized corn oil. It also inhibits the elevation of serum ALT, AST and lipid peroxydation (LPO), and the damaging of the liver.

3)        He shou wu can lower serum free fatty acid and lipid peroxydation.

4)        In vitro studies showed that he shou wu can protect liver, anti fatty liver formation because  it can inhibit lipid oxydation and the destruction of liver cells.

5)        He shou wu is being used in improving the function of the liver, in fatty liver,  and in viral hepatitis.

6)        Among the the 4 different kinds of prepared he shou wu, raw he shou wu possesses the strongest property in eliminating free radicals. The strength of the different preparation in eliminating free radicals is in the the following order: raw he shou wu, soy bean prepared he shou wu, steamed he shou wu, and soy plus alcohol prepared he shou wu.

9.Cautions: Use caution in cases of spleen deficient (pixu). Not to use in presence of phlegm or diarrhea due to shenyangxu.

There are report that this herb has cause liver inflammation in some patients.