Polygonum multiflorum
He Shou Wu
a perennial woody member of the Polygonum genus in the family Polygonaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Polygonum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 4.5 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[14].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize[2]. Flowers[9]. No more details are given. Root - cooked[10][7]. It should be washed several times in order to leech out the bitterness[9]. This process will also remove many of the vitamins and minerals from the roots[K]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[2].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
He Shou Wu is considered to be one of the most important of the Chinese herbal tonics and is widely used in that country[12]. It is said to restore vitality and virility[5], working especially on the liver and the reproductive, urinary and circulatory systems[14]. Some care should be exercised, however, since excessive doses can cause skin rash and numbness of the extremities[14]. The roots and stems are antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antispasmodic, astringent, cardiotonic, demulcent, depurative, hypoglycaemic, laxative, sedative, tonic[3][4][5][6][14][17]. The roots are taken internally in the treatment of menstrual and menopausal complaints, constipation in the elderly, swollen lymph glands and high cholesterol levels[14]. They are very effective in reducing high cholesterol levels in the blood and increase blood sugar levels[15]. Externally, they are used to treat ringworm, bleeding wounds and sores[14]. The roots are harvested in the autumn, preferably from plants 3 - 4 years old, and are dried for later use[14]. The leaves and roots tonify the liver and kidneys, fortify the blood, strengthen the muscles and prevent premature greying of the hair[12]. The stem is deobstruent and sedative[12]. It is taken internally in the treatment of insomnia and neurasthenia whilst it is applied externally to ringworm[6][14]. The stems are harvested in late summer or early autumn and are dried for later use[14]. Extracts of the plant have shown antipyretic, antitumour, hypoglycaemic and sedative activity[12].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Antipyretic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Antitumor
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Cardiotonic
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Deobstruent
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Woods, north to latitude 42° 30' north[18]. Along the banks of streams and in valley shrub thickets[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[11]. Repays generous treatment[1]. This species is hardy to at least -15°c[14]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[13]. There is a suggestion that this plant might be dioecious[8], in which case male and female plants will need to be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00