Fleeceflower Root Fo-Ti root Benefits.

Legend of Foti or Ho-Shou-Wu.

Fo-Ti Root Extract INCI Name Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract Fleeceflower Root Ho-Shou-Wu Extract Maltiflower Knotweed Tuber Fleeceflower Radix Polygoni MuItiflori photo picture image Ho-shou-wu (pinyin: heshouwu) is derived from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum. The herb was first recorded in the Ri Huazi Bencao (Tang Dynasty, 713 A.D.) and then incorporated into the well-known Kaibao Bencao (Song Dynasty; 973 A.D.). The herb was originally called jiaoteng, referring to its form: an intertwining vine (jiao = intersecting, teng = creepers). The newer name came from a story that is typically related something like this: Mr. Ho (full name, in pinyin, is He Tianer) from Hebei Province, at age 58, had not been able to father a child. A monk advised him to eat jiaoteng gathered from a mountain, which Ho then did, and consumed regularly. Soon after, he was able to father several children, his hair turned from gray to black, his vision improved, and his body became more youthful. He lived to age 130 (some say 160), still with black hair. Since then, the herb has been called Mr. Ho's hair is black (shou = head; wu = black). Ho's son is also reputed to have lived to be 130 years. This short version is derived from the following story, which is related in the Heshouwu Lun (Notes on Ho-shou-wu) by Li Ao, written around 813 A.D.:

The Buddhist priest Wenxiang was devoted to the art of nourishing life [this refers to the Taoist immortality practices]. On the 18th day of the 3rd month in the 7th year of the governmental period yun he [thus, in 812 A.D.], he was on Maoshan early in the morning, and there, in the vicinity of Huayang cave, he met an old man who said to him: "You have the appearance of an immortal. I will reveal to you a secret formula [as suggested by the following story].

An ancestor of He Shouwu, who lived in the district of Nanhe in Xunzhou, was originally named He Tianer and was later called Nengzi. He was born impotent [meaning, he couldn't bear children] and had turned to drinking wine. At the age of 58, he returned home drunk one night and was overcome by sleep while still outside. When he awoke again, he noticed on the field two shoots of climbing plants, which stood about 3 feet apart. The sprouts of these shoots were twisted around each other [thus, the original name of the plant, jiaoteng] and then separated, three or four times.

Tiener considered this to be strange and, therefore, dug out the root of the plant and asked all the people in the village and the wilderness, but no one was able to tell him its name. Thereupon he dried the plant in the sun. A man living nearby was an excellent jester and said to Tiener: "You are impotent, you are old and childless. This climbing plant struck you as peculiar, now surely it is supposed to serve you as a divine drug. Why don't you take it?"

Thereupon, Tiener sifted out a fine powder of the drug and took it with wine. After 7 days, he suddenly recognized clearly the principles of human life. After several tens of days had passed, he felt unburdened and strong, and he could barely control his sexual desire. He married a widow named Cen and continued to take the drug regularly after that. He then increased the individual dose to 2 qian [about 6.2 grams]. After over 700 days, all of his previous complaints had disappeared, he regained his youthful appearance and begot a son. The people in the neighborhood were very astonished at this. During the following 10 years, Tiener became the father of several sons. He ascribed all this to the drug and said: "This was caused by the climbing plant. When one takes it, one can live to be 160 years old, and yet it is neither listed in the old prescriptions nor in the materia medicas [bencao].

I [the old man at the beginning of this story] have received this from my teacher [the Buddhist priest] who was told about it in Nanhe. Taking it helped me, also, to father children. Originally, I preferred peace of mind, and under no circumstances did I want to take this drug, because it is harmful to peace of mind [this refers to its stimulation of sexual desire]. My spouse took it accidentally and we attained the greatest happiness. Subsequently, I recorded all the effects of the drug for Tiener, and I changed his name to Nengzi [capable of begetting]. He died at the age of 160 and left 19 sons and daughters. His son He Yen, who also took the drug, reached the age of 160 as well, and left 30 sons and daughters. Yen's son, He Shouwu lived to the age of 130 by means of this drug, and fathered 21 children.

An Qi [a legendary herbalist from the Qin Dynasty who specialized in miraculous herbs] reports the following about this climbing plant: It has a sweet taste, warm nature, and belongs to the category of herbs without markedly curative power [that is, it has a slow and moderate action]. It masters the five hemorrhoidal complaints as well as all hidden illnesses and emaciating influences in the loins and abdomen. It expands the muscles and helps people to have many children because it increases one's semen [jing]. Taken as a food, this substance supplements the body's influences [qi] and strength, nourishes the skin, and prolongs life. Other names of the plant are yemiao [wild sprout], jiaojing [joining stalks; same basic meaning as jiaoteng], yehe [meeting at night], dijing [earth essence], and daoliu [peach and willow, meaning sexual joy; see also, below, the relation to the shape of the trees]. This climbing plant grows on the fields of Xunzhou, in the district of Nanhe. It is also frequently found in all regions of Lingnan. The sprouts of the plant are of the same size as those of mugao [the identity of this herb is not certain] and have a moist shimmer. They resemble the shape of peach and willow trees. The leaves are bent, grow individually with their backs facing, and are not opposite. There are male and female types of the plant. The sprouts of the male plant are yellow-white, those of the female are yellow-red. They grow at a distance from each other and unite at night. Some then become invisible. The female and male specimens should be gathered on cloudless days at the end of spring, in midsummer, or at the beginning of fall, and they should be dried in the hot sun. The herb is taken pulverized, together with wine. When gathering, one ought to make sure that the whole root is obtained. The root must not be washed, must be protected from moisture, and is rubbed clean of sand and soil by means of a piece of cloth; the rind must not be damaged. It is stored in a tightly closed container. Every month, the herb should again be dried in the sun. It must be taken only on even days, that is, on the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth day [etc.], and its use must be discontinued as soon as the clothes are soaked with perspiration, indicating that one's qi was brought into motion. While taking the herb, the consumption of meat and blood from pork and lamb are to be avoided.

Here [after relating this information], the old man ended and left. His walk resembled a swift wind. Censor Meng from the Provision Distribution Office in East Chekiang, was acquainted with Mr. He Shouwu. After he had tasted his herb, he said: "Its effects correspond to the tradition. It comes from Niudou Mountain in Bingzhou. The sprouts grow in a crawling fashion similar to that of bijie [Dioscorea sativa or Dioscorea tokoro]. The root resembles a threatening fist. The herb is taken fresh, after removal of the black rind. Because of the story related above, the people of the south call the herb heshouwu."

Reference:

1.Fleeceflower Root Fo-Ti root Benefits.

last edit date:3rd,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Fo-Ti Root Extract
Serie No:R041.
Specifications:12:1 TLC.
INCI Name:POLYGONUM MULTIFLORUM ROOT EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:N/A
CAS:N/A
Chem/IUPAC Name:Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract is an extract of the roots of the polygonum,Polygonum multiflorum,Polygonaceae

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Fleeceflower Root Fo-Ti root Benefits.

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Legend of Foti or Ho-Shou-Wu.

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last edit date:3rd,Mar.2010.

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