Origin & tradition
He Shou Wu (何首乌) is a celebrated Jing tonic in Chinese medicine, traditionally linked to hair, kidney, and longevity.
Eastern tradition · Tonic Herbs · Practitioner
He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti) 何首乌
A famous Chinese longevity tonic — with a real, honest caveat: reports of liver toxicity.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Stilbene glycosides (botanical extract).
Its 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside is studied for antioxidant and neuroprotective effects — but documented cases of hepatotoxicity make processing and dosing a genuine safety question, not a footnote.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
58Evidence confidence
Early / limited human trials3 randomized controlled trials · 4 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Mixed: preclinical benefits offset by real hepatotoxicity signals
Its 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside is studied for antioxidant and neuroprotective effects — but documented cases of hepatotoxicity make processing and dosing a genuine safety question, not a footnote.
4registered clinical trials reference this intervention
3selected from 4+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
- The evaluation and molecular mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by trans-emodin dianthrones isolated from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. in vitro
- Polygonum multiflorum: Recent updates on newly isolated compounds, potential hepatotoxic compounds and their mechanisms
- Overview of Pharmacokinetics and Liver Toxicities of Radix Polygoni Multiflori
Key active: Stilbene glycosides (botanical extract) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-06-06. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Compare the evidence
How He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti) stacks up
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