Zhi He Shou Wu
Polygoni multiflora Radix preparata
bitter, sweet, astringent, slightly warm
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Tonify Blood
CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Premature greying of hair
- Low back pain
- Insomnia
- Nocturnal emissions
- Rash
Zhi He Shou Wu is bitter, sweet, astringent, and slightly warm. It enters the liver and kidney systems. There is an ancient story of a person that was lost in the mountains and ate He Shou Wu. They got lost with grey hair but when they were found their hair was black again.
Channels: liver, kidney
COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:
- Declining vision
- Premature aging
- Greying of hair
- Anemia
- Poor vision
- Boils
- Back pain
- Knee pain
- Constipation
- Dyslipidemia
- Vasodilation
Formulas:
- Dang Gui Yin Zi
- Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan
Contraindications: do not prescribe Zhi He Shou Wu to patients with poor digestive function, dampness, or phlegm patterns
Zoo Image: two bats are on a conjoined cow, one bat has rash, grey hair, and glasses, both bats are drinking blood, the cow is eating essence, one bat has wind and is rejected