Properties: Bitter, sweet and astringent, slightly warm

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney and Liver

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)

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.

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).

• 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-glucoside
  Stilbene glycoside considered the main active ingredient with a role as an antioxidant, a platelet aggregation inhibitor, a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, an apoptosis inhibitor and a cardioprotective agent, but may also be the prime ingredient responsible for liver damage at high doses or in susceptible individuals (Jiang et al., 2025).
• 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)
• Physcion
  Anthraquinone with a role as an antibacterial agent, an antineoplastic agent, an antifungal agent, a hepatoprotective agent, an anti-inflammatory agent and an apoptosis inducer.
• 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).