Fo-ti
Fo-ti, also called He Shou Wu, is the root of Polygonum multiflorum, a climbing plant used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Also listed as Polygonum multiflorum, Pleuropterus multiflorus, Shou Wu, Fo-Ti Extract
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
What is fo-ti?
Fo-ti, also called He Shou Wu, is a root preparation from Polygonum multiflorum. Traditional uses include graying hair and constipation. Traditional use does not establish effectiveness in controlled human trials. 1
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Is hair regrowth proven in people?
The hair-growth experiment reviewed here used mice. It does not establish a human benefit or an effective human dose. 2
Is fo-ti a liver-protection supplement?
Hospital reports document liver injury, including chronic damage and a death. Traditional liver-tonic claims do not remove this risk. 3
Does cooking or processing make it safe?
The cited mouse study compared preparations for hair growth; it did not validate human safety after processing. 2
Does everyone who uses it develop liver injury?
No frequency can be calculated from the cited hospital series because it lacks a count of all exposed users. That limitation does not diminish the seriousness of the reported cases. 3
Sources
- Polygonum Multiflorum LiverTox, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2020