Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu) for Hair Health

Research suggests that Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu, Polygonum multiflorum) may support hair health through several biological mechanisms, with preclinical studies indicating that its key bioactive compounds — particularly 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) and physcion — can promote hair follicle cell proliferation, inhibit hair follicle apoptosis, suppress 5α-reductase activity relevant to androgenic alopecia, and stimulate melanin synthesis via the tyrosinase pathway, which may help address premature hair graying. The available evidence consists primarily of animal studies, in vitro experiments, bioinformatics analyses, and traditional use reviews, with a 2025 systematic review of TSG's anti-aging properties corroborating hair regrowth as one of its documented preclinical effects; notably, well-designed human clinical trials are largely absent from this body of literature. Reviews of the plant's broader pharmacology consistently acknowledge its long traditional use for hair blackening and hair loss, lending historical context to the laboratory findings, though the translation of these effects to humans remains unestablished. A significant and well-documented concern across multiple reviews is the association of Polygonum multiflorum products with hepatotoxicity, meaning that any consideration of its use must weigh this safety signal, which has been reported across multiple countries since at least the 1990s.