Pinyin: He Shou Wu  Chinese: 何首烏
Pharmaceutical: Radix Polygoni Multiflori
Taxonomy: Polygonum multiflorum
English: Fleeceflower Root / Flowery Knotweed Root / Climbing Knotwood / Chinese Corn-bind / Fo-Ti

Tastes: Bitter, sweet and astringent, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Liver and Kidney Yin, nourishes the Blood and Jing (Zhi He Shou Wu)
   Premature graying of the hair, hair loss or balding (Han et al., 2025)
   Dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia
   Lower back and knee weakness and pain, soreness of the extremities, nocturnal emissions
2. Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing the Blood (Zhi He Shou Wu)
   Wind-Rash due to Blood Deficiency
3. Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (Sheng He Shou Wu)
   Constipation due to Blood Deficiency
4. Relieves Fire Toxicity (Sheng He Shou Wu)
   Fire toxin carbuncles, sores, scrofula, goiter and neck lumps (Chuang Yung)
5. Checks malarial disorders (Sheng He Shou Wu)
   Malarial disorders with Qi and Blood Deficiency
6. Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 9-30g in decoction.
Cautions: Stir-baked Shou Wu is contraindicated for accumulated damp-phlegm because of its astringent properties and its strongly tonifying action. Raw He Shou Wu is contraindicated for loose stool because it can smooth stool.

He Shou Wu has been associated with liver toxicity due to its stilbene glycoside content. This is reduced by processing with the longer the processing time, the less risk of liver injury (Li et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2018; Wu et al., 2012).

Pinyin: Jiu  Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine

Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
   Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
2. Warms Yang and Expels Cold
   All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
   Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
3. Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
   Temporary low mood, celebration

Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.

The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire.