Fo-ti
Reynoutria multiflora · 何首乌
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called He shou wu, Ho shou wu, Tuber fleeceflower
Pinyin: Hé Shǒu Wū
Linked to serious liver injuryA tuber used in Chinese medicine for graying hair and weakness. It has been linked to serious liver injury.
Did you know? Its name comes from a legend about a man named He whose hair turned black after he took the root.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Hair & nails. Traditional use for graying hair. Some lab and cell studies exist. No good human trials show darker hair.Traditional proof
- Cholesterol. Lab and animal studies suggest lower cholesterol. Human proof is limited, and the liver risk is serious.Traditional proof
- Liver. The popular claim that it protects the liver is not supported. The herb is more often linked to liver injury.Not supported
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses he shou wu to nourish blood, Liver and Kidney, and as a tonic for graying hair and weakness. Modern doctors and several regulators now advise against using it because of liver injury reports.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Tonic, Nutritive, Antioxidant. Energy: warming.
- Chinese medicine
- 何首乌 Tonify blood. Nature: warm. Flavour: bitter, sweet, astringent. Enters the Liver, Heart and Kidney channels.
How people take it
Traditional use calls for steamed (processed) root. Commercial doses vary widely and are not standardized. No dose has been shown to be safe, and the liver injury does not clearly follow a set dose.
Decoction, powder, capsule and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows wild and is cultivated in China, Korea and Japan. Sold as raw or steamed root slices, powder, capsules and tinctures. Raw root is considered more toxic than steamed root in traditional texts, which is not a reason to use it.
Be careful
Serious liver injury has been reported, including deaths and some cases needing liver transplant. Symptoms can start days to months after use: dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, nausea, fatigue and belly pain. Stop it at once if these appear and get medical care.
Avoid if: liver disease; pregnancy; breastfeeding; heavy alcohol use.
Mixing with other things
- Don't mixAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol adds to liver stress. Together, the two raise the risk of serious liver damage.
- Use cautionStatins (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
Both can stress the liver. Combining them may add risk, so check with a clinician and get liver tests.
The honest take
Fo-ti is one of the most important herb-related causes of liver injury in Chinese reports. Its claims for darker hair and lower cholesterol have little human proof. Given the liver risk, the honest choice is to avoid it.