He Shou Wu - also known as Fo-Ti or Fleeceflower Root - is one of the most celebrated tonic herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with over a thousand years of recorded use. Revered as a primary Jing herb and associated with longevity, hair vitality and deep nourishment, it remains one of the most sought-after roots in the Chinese herbal tradition.
🌱 What is He Shou Wu?
He Shou Wu is one of our favourite Chinese tonic herbs, along with reishi, goji and schizandra. It is considered a superior herb - these are the herbs that Traditional Chinese Medicine believes are beneficial to take on a daily basis to support good health and longevity.
As the primary Jing herb, He Shou Wu is a herb that can be enjoyed without restraint, in order to sustain spiritual well-being. It is actually prepared from the root of a vine that grows in China, that can grow up to 80 feet tall in the wild. The roots must be sliced and boiled with black beans initially, to inhibit the laxative effect, then steamed and dried. In TCM, black foods such as black bean, black sesame, and black rice are said to support kidney function, and so Jing energy, which is stored in the kidneys. He Shou Wu also falls into this category of black foods which are kidney tonics.
🏮 The Legends of He Shou Wu
There are some great legends around He Shou Wu! Neng Si was believed to have first discovered it in China. After falling down drunk in the forest, he was struck by the unique appearance of some He Shou Wu vines growing nearby, so he picked it, took it home, and ground it into a powder. According to legend, his hair grew dark again, and he changed his name to Neng Si, which means "Capable of Bearing Offspring."
The name He Shou Wu translates as "Black-haired Mr He." This legend tells of Mr He, who fell into a deep depression when he realised he couldn't have children. This depression also caused his hair to go white. However, according to tradition, after consuming the herb for a year, his hair colour was restored and he reportedly fathered a child at 56, going on to live until 132.
The Taoist sage Li Ao had this to say: "I will reveal to you an herbal secret. Taking He Shou Wu helped me to father children. Originally, I preferred peace of mind, and under no circumstances did I want to take this herb, because I had heard it said that it was 'harmful to peace of mind' (referring to its stimulation of sexual desire). However, my spouse took it accidentally and we attained the greatest happiness. Since then I have continued taking this miraculous herb."
Li Qing Yuen is said in legend to have lived until 252 years old, maintaining a youthful vigour until the end of his life. The story goes that he was born in 1680 and died in the 1930s - his secret reportedly being a daily soup of goji, ginseng and He Shou Wu.
🍃 He Shou Wu According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Taoist tradition the root is not only seen as a simple medicine, but a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms. It's long been connected with youth and energy, particularly through the support of the liver and kidneys.
He Shou Wu's primary traditional association in TCM has been with supporting the liver and kidneys to increase longevity and health. It was given especially to the elderly to support vitality and reduce premature aging, where it's been said to bring colour back to hair and increase overall lifeforce.
It has a long traditional association with the relief of lower back pain and general fatigue, particularly caused by aging or chronic depletion. Its association also extends to blood flow, having been traditionally associated with the regulation of the body's blood and the development of red blood cells.
TCM aimed to achieve these effects through a tonic made by steaming the root as the raw root unprepared has quite a different effect; used as a laxative, it was known to be especially helpful in clearing wind from the body! Once steamed it was often mixed with other ingredients such as goji berries, black sesame, ginseng or schizandra to help draw out its beneficial properties. Dragon Herbs have the excellent 8 Immortals Tonic containing He Shou Wu, which can be found here.
🔬 He Shou Wu's Nutritional Profile
He Shou Wu has a rich nutritional profile that helps explain its long-standing reputation as a tonic herb. It is a notable source of stilbenes, particularly TSG - a powerful antioxidant compound unique to the plant. It also contains emodin, as well as lecithin, zinc, iron and calcium.
He Shou Wu is also rich in anthraquinones, which are the compounds responsible for its traditional preparation with black beans to reduce its laxative effect. Together these compounds contribute to its reputation as one of the most complex and nutritionally dense roots in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia.
Modern Chinese research has much more to say about this plant that has evidently been used for well over a thousand years, and maybe one day we will be able to share those stories with you too.
🛒 How to Take He Shou Wu
Our Raw Living He Shou Wu powder is the best value way to purchase the herb. You can add 1/2–1 tsp to soups, or use it as the basis of a coffee substitute drink.
Dragon Herbs offer the finest quality He Shou Wu, which has been grown in a semi-wild state, harvested after five years, and then steamed for under a day, before drying. They produce it in both tincture and capsule form.
For tea-making, you can purchase the dried root pieces, or find it as a core ingredient in our Eterniteea blend. It's also one of the key ingredients in our chocolate power blend, Tonic Power. Anima Mundi Herbals use it as part of their Collagen formula.
You can find all He Shou Wu products here.
❓ He Shou Wu FAQs
Q: What does He Shou Wu taste like and how do you take it? A: He Shou Wu has a deep, earthy, slightly bitter flavour with a subtle sweetness - not unlike a rich, dark root tea. It blends well into soups, warm drinks and coffee substitute blends, where its flavour adds depth rather than overpowering. Start with 1/2 tsp and build up to 1 tsp daily as your palate and body adjust.
Q: Is He Shou Wu safe to take every day? A: He Shou Wu is classified as a superior herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, meaning it is considered suitable for daily long-term use as a tonic. As with any herb, it is best to start with a small amount and build gradually. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, it is worth consulting a healthcare practitioner before use.
Q: What's the difference between raw and prepared He Shou Wu? A: Raw He Shou Wu has a stronger laxative effect and is generally used in TCM for specific therapeutic purposes rather than as a daily tonic. Prepared He Shou Wu - which has been sliced, boiled with black beans, then steamed and dried - is the form used as a daily tonic herb and is the version you will find in most quality supplements. The preparation process is an important part of what makes it suitable for long-term use.
Q: Can He Shou Wu help with hair health? A: He Shou Wu has a centuries-old traditional association with hair health, particularly in Chinese herbal medicine where it has long been used as a tonic for the kidneys - which in TCM are considered to govern hair vitality. Its rich antioxidant content, including the unique compound TSG, is thought to contribute to this traditional reputation. It is one of the reasons it remains one of the most popular herbs in the Chinese beauty tonic tradition.
Q: How does He Shou Wu compare to other Chinese tonic herbs? A: He Shou Wu is considered a primary Jing tonic, which sets it apart from herbs like reishi, which is primarily a Shen tonic for the mind and spirit, or ginseng, which is better known as a Qi tonic for energy. He Shou Wu's particular strength lies in its association with longevity, kidney support and the deep replenishment of the body's foundational energy - making it a complementary rather than competing herb alongside others in the Chinese tonic tradition.
Every He Shou Wu product we stock has been carefully selected for quality, sourcing and preparation. You can browse the full range here.
