Fleeceflower Root Fo-Ti root Benefits.

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Processing of Fo-ti.

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 During the Tang Dynasty, Lin Daoren wrote the book The Secret Recipes of the Immortals for Treating Wounds and Fractures (Xian Shou Li Shang Xu Duan Mi Fang, 846 A.D.). In that book, he described the processing of ho-shou-wu to enhance its tonic properties (processed ho-shou-wu is sometimes called zhi heshouwu to distinguish it from the unprocessed form, which may be designated sheng shouwu). The processing method is to stew or steam the ho-shou-wu in black soybean (heidou) juice for several hours (up to three days, depending on the devotion of the processor to this method) and then dry the roots. This is a technique that is still used today. The black soy bean juice is prepared by boiling black soybeans in water for about 4 hours; the liquid that is left after the cooking is poured off and the beans are cooked again with less water for 3 hours; the resulting extract is combined with the former extract to make the juice. About 10 kg of black beans are used to process 100 kg of ho-shou-wu roots. Black beans are traditionally attributed with the property of supplementing blood and essence, and prolonged cooking or steaming of the herb is associated with enhancing its enriching and warming nature. The alchemical version of this processing, which is similar to the recommended method for making processed rehmannia, is to repeat the stewing or steaming 9 times. Thus, after preparing with the black soybean (overnight) and drying, it is again prepared with black soybean on the next day, and so on, until nine cycles have been completed. This repetition of processing was questioned by Chen Shiduo in his book New Compilation of Herbs (Qing Dynasty), in which he felt that the repeated processing would destroy the quality of the herb. Today, the single processing is relied upon.
 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

 According to the English-Chinese Rare Chinese Materia Medica, raw ho-shou-wu, that is, the dried root that has not been prepared with soybeans, is used to treat toxicosis (infections yielding abscess, swellings beneath the skin, sores, carbuncles, and eruptive diseases like rubella), inflammation, constipation, and hyperlipidemia. The soybean-prepared ho-shou-wu is used as a tonic for yin and blood, nourishing the hair, strengthening the bones and muscles, and used to treat pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, premature greying of hair, weakness of loins and knees, numbness of extremities, metrorrhagia, metrostaxis, profuse leukorrhea, weakness due to lingering diseases (e.g., malaria), and hyperlipemia. According to evaluations done with raw and processed ho-shou-wu, the processed version does have different properties, and is the one with the most dramatic effects on preserving the immune system functions. Processed ho-shou-wu is currently the only one that is regularly exported from China. During the past thousand years in China, processed ho-shou-wu has been used to nourish the liver and kidney, promote the growth of hair (see the following section on alopecia), and treat premature greying of hair.

 The roots of ho-shou-wu are reddish brown. The taste is starchy, astringent and slightly bitter. The highest quality roots are those that have a high density and firm quality. In Hong Kong, the highest quality roots are sliced very thin and packaged carefully to display the color, shape, and luster of the slices; the ordinary quality roots are sliced thicker and sold in bulk packages.

 To make a tea of ho-shou-wu, 9-15 grams of the sliced root (dried or processed root, as indicated for the application) is simmered in water (in a non-metallic pot) for 45 minutes (30 minutes is adequate for the thin slices). Aside from oral ingestion, the herb decoction can be applied locally: 1 concentrated tea can be used in a douche for leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), and ho-shou-wu tea is useful too as a gargle for pyorrhea (inflammation of the gums) or loose teeth.

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Reference:

citations1.Fleeceflower Root Fo-Ti root Benefits.

last edit date:1st,June.2009.