The herbal and health information provided in this Web Site is intended as historical information only. The historical uses are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing listed within this Web Site should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a given problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance for specific health problems. Persons with serious medical conditions should always seek professional care.
Fo-Ti is an herb derived from the dried roots of a Japanese evergreen called Polygonum multiflorum. In China, where it is called Ho Shou Wu, Fo-Ti is said to possess almost magical rejuvenating properties, and it is especially popular with the elderly who believe it can help one maintain hair color, preserve youthfulness, and restore fertility.
Traditional Chinese herbalists place great emphasis on the shape and age of the roots, with the older roots being in great demand. Made into a tea or infusion for oral ingestion, Eastern and Western herbalists recommend Fo-Ti as a tonic to maintain youthful vigor, increase energy, tone the kidneys and liver, and purify the blood. It has also been employed as a remedy for insomnia, stomach upset, and diabetes.
Fo-Ti contains a number of glycosides that account for the herbs use as a remedy for stomach disorders and constipation. Researchers suspect that the roots may contain compounds with mild cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory effects, but this has yet to be proved.
Fo-Ti has been found to reduce hypertension, reduce blood cholesterol levels, and reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease among individuals prone to these conditions. In Chinese materia medica, Fo-Ti has been used historically for neurasthenia, insomnia, excessive sweating, dizziness, elevated serum cholesterol, coronary disease, weakness, pain, and backache. These uses conform well to the traditional Chinese medical research that Fo-Ti has anti-toxic, anti-swelling, and tranquilizing properties.
