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Chinese Herb for Gray Hair

According to Dr. Maoshing Ni, the Chinese herb used for graying hair is shou wu. Shou wu is a hair nurturing supplement available in Chinese pharmacies. It is often sold in a tonic or pill with additional herbal ingredients.

  1. Botanical Name

    • Shou wu (polygonum multiflorum) is one herb known by several names. The most common names are he shou wu, ho shou wu and fo-ti.

    Dosage

    • According to PeaceHealth, the typical recommended daily dosage is 4 g to 8 g per day. In supplement form, five tablets (500 mg each) can be taken three times a day.

    Traditional Uses

    • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used shou wu to treat premature aging, weakness, erectile dysfunction, vaginal discharges, infectious diseases and angina pectoris. Historically, it was supposed to have treated infertility.

    History

    • According to the Institute for Traditional Medicine, the herb was first recorded during the Tang Dynasty (713 A.D.). It was originally known as jiaoteng, which referred to its form, an intertwining vine.

    Side Effects

    • According to PeaceHealth, the processed root powder may cause arm or leg numbness. More than 15 g per day of the unprocessed root may cause mild diarrhea.

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