← Herb Library

He shou wu

Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke

Polygonaceae // processed or raw root

Your shelf

Not tracked on your shelf
View shelf →

Uses & evidence

Uses and evidence recorded
View →

Preparation

decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract
View →

Safety

Safety information available
View →

Research

No linked research on file
Open research →

Overview

Plant parts

processed or raw root

Known constituents

stilbene glycosides, anthraquinones

Research corpus coverage

Materia medicaPet safety

Chemistry notes

  • CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include stilbene glycosides; anthraquinones; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.

Uses & Evidence

Traditional / historical use

Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.

  • TRADITIONAL: He shou wu has been used for vitality; hair; constipation; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.

    MODERATE · regulatory monograph · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

Modern evidence

  • EVIDENCE: For the major use set (vitality; hair; constipation), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient evidence for efficacy; strong case-series/pharmacovigilance evidence of hepatotoxicity.

    LOW · observational/case series · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

Preparation

Forms used traditionally

decoctiontincturepowder/capsulestandardized extract

A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.

  • PREPARATION: The medicinal material is processed or raw root; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract. No dose or potency is specified.

    MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

    Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.

Safety

Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)

Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.

  • SAFETY: Major issues include Potentially severe, sometimes fatal liver injury. Contraindications/cautions include Liver disease.

    HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

  • SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Avoid with hepatotoxic drugs; CYP interactions possible.

    MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

    Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.

  • SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid in pregnancy/lactation.

    MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

    Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.

Preparation × species risk matrix

Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.

Cats

  • tinctureCaution
  • concentrated extractUnknown
  • essential oilUnknown
  • glyceriteUnknown
  • infused oilUnknown
  • salveUnknown
  • smoke/combustionUnknown
  • tea/infusionUnknown
  • whole herbUnknown

Dogs

  • tinctureCaution
  • concentrated extractUnknown
  • essential oilUnknown
  • glyceriteUnknown
  • infused oilUnknown
  • salveUnknown
  • smoke/combustionUnknown
  • tea/infusionUnknown
  • whole herbUnknown

Identity

  • Synonym

    GBIF resolves Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. as a synonym of Reynoutria multiflora. The older name still appears in herbal and taxonomic literature.

    HIGH · GBIF Species Match API

  • Synonym

    GBIF resolves Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson as a synonym of Reynoutria multiflora. The older name still appears in herbal and taxonomic literature.

    HIGH · GBIF Species Match API

Botanical synonym

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson

Taxonomic identity note

  • He shou wu is treated here as Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke in the family Polygonaceae; recorded older names include Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.; Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson.

Sources

Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.