Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata (Heshouwu)—Fleeceflower Root
Origin
Prepared Fleeceflower Root is the dried root tuber of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Processed in the black bean menthod.
Description and Identification
Mass or irregular fusiform,6 ~ 15cm long,4 ~ 12cm in diameter. Externally reddish-brown, shrunken and uneven,shallowly grooved,with transverse elongated lenticels and lime roodet scars. Tecture heavy,compact,uneasily broken,fracture pale yellowish-brown or reddish-brown,starchy, bark exhibiting 4-11 subrounded rings abnormal vascular bundles,forming brocaded patterns, wood in central part relatively large,some having a woody core. Odourless; taste, bitterish, sweetish and astringent.
Chemical Ingredients
It has phospholipid, saccharides, and anthraquinones compound, chrysophenine glycoside, starch, fat, etc.
Property and Channel Tropism
Property: slightly sweet, acerbity and bitter in taste, warm in nature. Channel tropism: liver, heart, kidney.
Action and Indications
Supplementing liver and kidney, nourishing essence and blood darkening the air and strengthening the tendon.
Weakness due to blood deficiency, dizziness, tinnitus, premature grey hair, lassitude of the loins and legs .numbness in the limbs , hematorrhea, leukorrhagia, chronic malaria, high blood cholesterol.
Place of Production
He shou wu is mainly produced in Haoxian,Lushi of Hunan province,and Jianshi,Enshi of Hubei province. Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou also produce he shou wu.
Recipes of Medicated Diet
1. Xian Ren Zhou
Immortal Gruel
[Ingredients]
30g to 60g zhi he shou wu, prepared fleeceflower root (Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata)
60g polished round-grained rice
3 to 5 Chinese dates and suitable amount of brown sugar
[Preparation]
Decoct zhi he shou wu with water. Extract and condense the decoction. Add polished round-grained rice, Chinese dates and the condensed decoction into a casserole to make congee. Add brown sugar or crystal sugar to taste when the congee is almost done. Boil it for another one or two minutes. Serve.
[Effects and Indications ]
Nourishing blood and qi, benefiting liver and kidney. Liver and kidney deficiency, premature grey hair, vertigo due to blood deficiency, tinnitus, lassitude of the loins and legs, constipation.
[Attention]
Avoid the usage of iron utensil. When take this gruel, do not eat shallot and garlic.
2. Shou Wu Gou Qi Gan Pian
Pig’ s Liver Slice with Prepared Fleeceflower Root and Wolfberry Fruit
[Ingredients]
20g zhi he shou wu , prepared fleeceflower root ( Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata )
20g gou qi zi, wolfberry fruit ( Fructus Lycii )
l00g pig ‘ s liver
[Preparation]
Put the washed zhi he shou wu and gou qi zi into casserole. Soak the medicine for a while. Decoct the medicine twice. Each time, decoct for 40 minutes. Extract the decoction. Transfer it into a casserole. Concentrate the decoction over mild fire into 15ml. Stir-fry the sliced pig’s kidney liver in the concentrated decoction. Add presoaked dried edible fungus, greens, shallot, and garlic slice, cooking wine, soy sauce, minced ginger, salt, monosodium gluta-mate, vinegar and wet starch. Serve.
[Effects and Indication]
Nourishing liver and kidney.
It acts on virus hepatitis due to liver yin deficiency.
