Properties: Bitter, sweet and astringent, slightly warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney and Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, nourishes the Blood and nourishes Jing (Zhi He Shou Wu)
Blood Deficiency with dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia and premature graying of the hair
Yin Deficiency with lower back and knee weakness and pain, soreness of the extremities, nocturnal emissions and insomnia
Jing Deficiency
- Expels Wind from the skin by nourishing the Blood (Zhi He Shou Wu)
Wind-Rash due to Blood Deficiency
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels (Sheng He Shou Wu)
Constipation due to Blood Deficiency
- Relieves Fire Toxin (Sheng He Shou Wu)
Fire toxin carbuncles, sores, scrofula, goiter and neck lumps (Chuang Yung)
- Checks malarial disorders (Sheng He Shou Wu)
Malarial disorders with Qi and Blood Deficiency
- Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
Suggested Daily 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.
Notable Constituents:
- Emodin
Anthraquinone with a role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent and a laxative. It has also shown to inhibit the interaction between the SARS-CoV spike protein and ACE2 receptors (Ho et al, 2007)
- Lecithin
A phospholipid with a polar choline found in phosphoester linkage to diacylglycerol. It is commonly used as a food additive, as an emulsifier to blend fats and water, and marketed as a supplement to benefit the gut mucosal lining and helping with disorders such as ulceration and potentially improving gut microbial diversity. However, it could have the opposite effect in some individuals, increasing inflammation and disrupting the microbial environment (Panyod et al., 2024).
Appears in 12 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
