He Shou Wu by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
He Shou Wu is a Chinese herb obtained from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum. He Shou Wu is promoted for preventing or delaying graying of hair, even reverting gray hair to its original color, as well as treating hair loss. I have not come across any human studies regarding the role of He Shoo Wu and hair growth or reversal of graying hair, so I don't know if this Chinese herb works for these purposes.
He Shoo Wu herb has the following substances
Anthraquinones, polydatin, 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxy
stilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, arbutin, and resveratrol are found in
Polygonum multiflorum. Types of anthraquinones in He Shoo Wu include physcion,
emodin, and questin. Other substances include chrysophanol, rhein, polygonimitin
B, and gallic acid.
He Shoo Wu for atheroslerosis
Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of
expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth
factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum.
J Pharmacol Sci. 2005 Nov. School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical
University, Shanghai, China.
Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum
multiflorum Thunb. He Shoo Wu, one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese
medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose
of the present study is to elucidate the effects of He Shoo Wu on
macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of
atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. The
results showed that He Shoo Wu is a powerful agent against atherosclerosis
and that He Shoo Wu action could possibly be through the inhibition of the
expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in foam cells.
He Shoo Wu for brain health
Protective effect of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb on amyloid beta-peptide 25-35
induced cognitive deficits in mice.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 March. Food Function Research Division, Korea Food
Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
Amyloid beta protein (Abeta) may be neurotoxic during the progression of
Alzheimer's disease by eliciting oxidative stress. This study was designed to
determine the effect of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb water extract He Shoo Wu on
Abeta25-35-induced cognitive deficits and oxidative stress in mice. Mice were
fed experimental diets comprising either 0.5 or 1% He Shoo Wu for 4 weeks, and
then received a single intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta25-35.
Behavioral changes in the mice were evaluated using passive avoidance and
water-maze tests. The consumption of He Shoo Wu significantly ameliorated the
cognitive deficits caused by i.c.v. injection of Abeta25-35. Our findings
suggest that He Shoo Wu exerts a preventive effect against cognitive deficits
induced by Abeta25-35 accumulation in Alzheimer's disease, and that this effect
is mediated by the antioxidant properties of He Shoo Wu.
Acute hepatitis due to shen-min: a herbal product with Polygonum
multiflorum He Shoo Wu
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2006 August. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,
Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe and Gastro-Hepatology Group, University of Antioquia,
Medellín, Colombia.
Shen-Min is a Chinese herbal product with a mixture of several plants and
vitamins including Polygonum multiflorum, a root that has been previously
associated with hepatotoxicity. Nonetheless to our knowledge this is the first
reported case of herbal-induced hepatotoxicity in a patient taking Shen-Min per
se.
Comments: It is not clear whether He Shoo Wu or the other plants in
this product were involved in damaging the liver.