Polygonum multiflorum is the botanical name for one of the most prized herbs in Chinese medicine.
This prolific vine has heart-shaped leaves and goes by several names: Chinese knotweed, fo ti, fleeceflower, and jiaotang (twisting vine) to name a few.
One name describes how it works as a medicine: he shou wu (the black haired Mr. He).
Ancient Chinese names can often have a detailed story attached to them, and the tale of he shou wu is a colorful one. It’s about a middle-aged alcoholic bachelor who finds love and redemption in a mysterious root.
As a young man, Mr. He learns he can’t have children. With no family to raise, He considers himself a failure, and depression drives him to drink. His strength fades, his vision and hearing go dull, and his hair greys at an early age.
By his mid-50s, Mr. He stumbles home drunk most nights, but one evening he gets so intoxicated he can’t quite make it to his bed. When he wakes up in a field the next morning, he sees two vines entwined and trailing above his head. Intrigued by the sign (which he interprets as a loving couple), He digs up the root and shows it to everyone in the village, but no one is familiar with it.
A monk (or in some versions, a jester) advises He to eat the root, claiming that it will restore his fertility. With nothing to lose, He gives it a try. After a few weeks of taking the herb each day, He’s health problems vanish and his youthful vigor returns. He marries a local widow and they have 19 children. His hair turns black and stays that way until his death at 160 years old.
Tonic Herbs
It’s hard to say how much of this story is poetic exaggeration. Yet people today still look to the root of Mr. He’s vine to treat infertility, weakness, grey hair, and other symptoms associated with premature aging.
He shou wu is known as a longevity tonic—a class of Chinese herbs that provide energy and strength. This isn’t a short burst followed by the inevitable crash type of energy that comes from stimulants, but something deeper and lasting.
Many longevity tonics—such as he shou wu, dong quai, and ginseng—are roots with a sweet taste. Taken over time, they provide a sense of strength and stability to both the mind and body. Today these herbs are often referred to as adaptogens due to their ability to help the body adapt to stress.
Ginseng is the most famous and expensive example, but Chinese herbalists also place he shou wu in the same class of top-shelf longevity tonics. These herbs captured the attention of ancient Chinese Taoists who considered them vehicles toward enlightenment and immortality.
Stories even more incredible than Mr. He’s are associated with he shou wu. The most recent was from a man who died in 1933. Li Ching Yun reportedly lived 252 years, had 23 wives, and fathered 180 children. He credited his longevity to daily consumption of lycium berries, ginseng, and he shou wu, as well as Tai Chi practice.
