Beauty News, Na'Vi Organics

The sweet story of He Shou Wu

14
Apr

The sweet story of He Shou Wu

One of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s most treasured tonic herbs is 何首乌 He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb). The account of its discovery is both a charming tale and a confirmation of the “doctrine of signatures”—the idea that a plant resembles the illness or body part it would treat.

The Ye Jiao Teng plant, whose name translates to “vines that tangle in the night,” is made up of a root known as He Shou Wu. He Tianer, a 58-year-old childless guy who is weathered, feeble, and aging, is the story’s improbable hero. He was interested when he noticed the vines entwined in a romantic manner one morning (sweetly, male and female plants grow separately and unite at night).

Tianer pulled up the plant’s root and began consuming it, maybe expecting for a change in the situation or, according to the legend, being encouraged to do so by the village jester who thought Tianer might find the root to be a divine cure for his impotence.

After a short while, he allegedly regained vitality and “understood clearly the basics of human life.” feeling liberated, powerful, energized, and sexually desire. As his vision recovered and his snow-white hair darkened, signs of youth began to return.
His despair and loneliness subsided, and he soon got married and started having kids! All of this, he said, was the result of the climbing plant’s root. One can live to be 160 years old if they take it.

The plant has since been given the name He Shou Wu in honor of He Tianer’s (new) dark hair, with Shou standing for “head” and Wu for “black.”

As one of the main herbs for promoting fertility, it is currently widely used throughout Asia for its ability to darken hair. He Shou Wu is a potent yin tonic that is prepared (simmered in black bean sauce) and is used to maintain young and strengthen the body. He Shou Wu, which is unprepared, is highly different and has laxative properties!

In ancient Chinese texts, He Shou Wu is said to ‘master the five hemorrhoidal complaints” and be helpful in emaciating illnesses. It tonifies kidney Qi and liver Qi and is said to help root our essence. It is used as a sexual tonic, to promote longevity, and build energy. It nourishes the blood and semen. Modern research confirms it improves the immune system, reverses hardening of the arteries, is liver protective & antioxidative. It’s also been shown to regulate blood sugar, improve the development of red blood cells, protect the brain and has lipid-modulating & age-reducing effects.

The recommended dosage of our full-spectrum prepared He Shou Wu 10:1 extract powder is 200-1000mg / day. Prepared He Shou Wu is also included in our ‘Tonic Gold’ & ‘Tonic Gold M‘ herbal elixir blends. A cup between 5-7pm when the kidney meridian is most active is our favourite and offers a nourishing, supportive drink as we begin to wind down after the day.