He Shou Wu Health Benefits
He shou wu, also known as fo-ti, is a potent tonic herb that is made from aged and dried polygonum multiflorum roots. Long a firm favourite in Traditional Chinese Medicine, he shou wu contains a rare blend of health compounds that help to make it an ultra-nourishing and beautifying superfood. Read on to find out more about the history, nutritional breakdown, and health benefits of he shou wu.
A Brief History of He Shou Wu
He shou wu comes with a legend that dates way back to 812AD, when it was mentioned in the Taoist Text, He Shou Wu Lun. The story goes that an old, greying man, came across some he shou wu roots. He showed them to a hermit, who told him he should prepare the roots and consume them to see what health benefits they would bring. After one week of taking he shou wu daily, the old man noticed a huge shift in his vitality and energy. After one year, the hermit returned to find the old man had fathered a child, and his grey hair had turned jet black. Legend has it that the man went on to father many children and lead a long and healthy life.
Nowadays, one of the things that he shou wu is most famous for is its ability to strengthen and nourish the hair. Many people who frequently take he shou wu report a change in the health and sometimes even the colouring of their locks.
He Shou Wu Nutritional Info
He shou wu is one of the most nutrient-rich tonics herbs around. It’s filled with antioxidants, lecithin, and zinc, plus it contains the enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps to neutralize free radical damage. Pound for pound, he shou wu powder contains more iron than goji berries.
This superstar superfood is one of the rare natural substances in the world to be classified as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is something that is able to work alongside the body’s natural state of health in order to assist in restoring balance. Other adaptogenic herbs and medicinal mushrooms include reishi and cordyceps.
He Shou Wu in Traditional Chinese Medicine
He shou wu is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) staple which is prescribed to improve the health of the physical body, tonify the blood and support nervous system health. In TCM, he shou wu is classed as a Jing tonic. Jing is one of the ‘three treasures’, and the name given to a type of life force energy that naturally depletes as we age, resulting in fatigue, diminished vitality and physical weakness. It is believed that he shou wu, along with physical practices like Qi Gong, help to naturally restore the body’s Jing reserves.
He Shou Wu Health Benefits
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Beautifying: Helps to strengthen nails and improve skin condition
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Hair Health: Nourishes and supports healthy hair growth and colouring
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Circulation: Improves blood flow in the body
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Anti-Anxiety: Soothes the nervous system
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Anti-Ageing: Antioxidants and lecithin help to prevent premature ageing
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Aphrodisiac: Encourages a healthy sex drive and increased libido
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Longevity Tonic: Contains SOD which is one of the most powerful antioxidants around
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Mildly Sedative: Helps to relax the body and aid deep sleep
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Adrenal Health: May help to strengthen the adrenal glands
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Blood-Cleansing: Iron and zinc help to purify and build the blood
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Jing Tonic: Tonifies the kidneys, builds blood and increases vitality
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Adaptogen: Helps the body to better deal with stress
How to Choose the Best He Shou Wu
For the highest quality he shou wu, always choose to purchase it from a trusted and reputable brand that sources sustainably-grown he shou wu. The most potent he shou wu powder is prepared in a traditional way; first the aged roots are selected for increased potency, then these roots are gently simmered in a soy bean or black bean stew before being naturally dried and made into a powder. This slow and careful process ‘unlocks’ certain nutrients and increases cellular antioxidant activity to make the health compounds more easily digestible for the body. If you consume ground he shou wu roots that have not been traditionally prepared using this method, then you will be missing out on many of he shou wu’s health compounds.
Our he shou wu is prepared using aged roots which have been simmered in a black bean stew. It’s sustainably-sourced from China, vegan-friendly, and it comes with no added preservatives or fillers. We transform the roots into a super 10:1 concentrated extract powder that is ten times more potent than the raw roots. Click here to learn more about our he shou wu concentrated extract powder.
He Shou Wu Dose
If it’s your first time taking he shou wu, then we recommend starting with a small dose of between 1/4 and 1/2 a teaspoon full. Then you can up the dosage if required. He shou wu can be enjoyed multiple times per day, and at any time during the day or night. Larger doses may be prescribed by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners for specific health issues.
How to Use He Shou Wu
He shou wu has an earthy yet versatile flavour, which makes it suitable for use in a range of sweet and savoury food and drink creations, including smoothies, juices, teas, elixirs, cakes, bars, energy balls, dips, sauces and even ice cream. Our he shou wu concentrated extract powder is ready-to-use and dissolves instantly in warm water. You can also blend or mix it into your foods, or simply sprinkle it over dishes for an added nutritional kick. Here are a few of our favourite he shou wu recipes to get you started:
He Shou Wu Overview
With its rare combination of health compounds, and high status in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s easy to see why he shou wu is one of the most widely-used tonic herbs around. A little goes a very long way with this potent powder, and it’s an excellent superfood to add to any collection. Enjoy!
Click here to shop our he shou wu concentrated extract powder
Supplement Facts
Ingredients: He Shou Wu
Other Names: Fo-Ti, Polygonum Multiflorum, Chinese Knotweed
Suggested Dosage: Between 1/4 a tsp and 1/2 a tsp per serving