He Shou Wu / Fo Ti

[ChloeDharma]

Now i know there are warnings that some people have a reaction to this and it can cause liver problems but....

Does anybody take this herb for hair growth? I know i saw a study where it was used to reverse greying and had an over 80% success rate but how about just growing hair generally?

I'd love to hear experiences of this. I ordered some and am just waiting for it to be delivered.

[In2wishin]

I don't take it internally but it is one of the herbs in my infused oil that I use.

[ChloeDharma]

I don't take it internally but it is one of the herbs in my infused oil that I use.

Oh really? Have you noticed any effect from it? Also is it the unprocessed type or the one that is first soaked in black bean soup?

[Joliebaby]

I take this in a herbal blend supplement. Can't say what it is doing, I'm taking so many supplements...

[In2wishin]

Oh really? Have you noticed any effect from it? Also is it the unprocessed type or the one that is first soaked in black bean soup?

It seems that my colored hair is a little darker (which is good since I am growing out dye) and my growth has increased. The Fo-Ti I use is dried slices of the root which I break up into smaller pieces when I do the infusion.

[Sundial]

My mum and aunt have been taking He Shou Wu since she started getting some greys. It is a Chinese herb that is also available as a pill. It seems to help alot with the greying.

As far as hair growth is concerned, both of them already had a faster than average growth prior to the use of He Shou Wu so I cannot be sure if the supplement contributed to faster hair growth.

I hope that helps!

[ChloeDharma]

My mum and aunt have been taking He Shou Wu since she started getting some greys. It is a Chinese herb that is also available as a pill. It seems to help alot with the greying.

As far as hair growth is concerned, both of them already had a faster than average growth prior to the use of He Shou Wu so I cannot be sure if the supplement contributed to faster hair growth.

I hope that helps!

It certainly does, thankyou :)
It does seem from the reading i've done that in terms of hair, reversing greying is the result most consistantly found.


It seems that my colored hair is a little darker (which is good since I am growing out dye) and my growth has increased. The Fo-Ti I use is dried slices of the root which I break up into smaller pieces when I do the infusion.

That is excellent :-) So topical use has also increased growth, maybe i should get some dried herb as well and add it to my oil recipe.
I noticed a thread about a shampoo with it in, shen min i think....the poster said it had really controlled their greys from what i remember.

Thankyou everyone who has replied....i'm itching for mine to arrive now :)

[CherrySilver]

I've been using foti for a while, and I believe it contributes to hair growth and retaining your pigmentation. I have very few whites to speak of and my hair grows pretty consistently .6-.75" month. However, I take a bunch of other stuff, too, (DE, brazil nuts, protein shakes, vitamins, etc.), so it's hard to isolate exactly what's helping and what's not (as much).

Also, you may want to try mulberry (fruit, leaves, root bark) in some form (power, liquid extract, pills, etc.). It does pretty much the same thing but also helps with lowering your blood sugar (not why I take it). I usually just put a scoop of the powder into my morning shake.

Happy growing!

[Centaur]

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a tea called, "Sugar Balance." It contains Fo-Ti as well as other ingredients. I feel refreshed after drinking the tea. I like to add lemon to the tea, and with the lemon I really enjoy the taste. The tea bags can also be re-brewed. Another thing that works is after I brew the tea bag and drink my hot tea, I leave the tea bag in the mug and add cold water and drink it that way. I am weird.

[Cheele]

Bumpbumpbump.

We need some more Fo-ti talk!

Anyone else have experiences?

:)

[Mommyof4]

I took it for several months, with no side effects. I will say that I felt more rested and had better clarity of mind. My hair is naturally blond, and my hair actually lightened to the same blonde I had when I was 12. I have been lazy and not taking it, because I'm out, and my 1/2 inch of new growth is a darker blonde now. I have friends that have taken this for years with no side effects.

**My .02**

Anything will damage your liver if you take it in excess amounts. It's probably just that. Even water can be bad for you if you take more in than needed. Add lemon to your water in the morning, it will help your body.

[leilasahhar]

I use a mist called Redwood Roots and it has Fo-ti root in it! It claims to promote thicker faster hair growth, and I have def noticed a boost. It acts like the fog that is always over the Redwood trees which contributes to their massive growth I guess. Its full of other yummy nourishing ingredients too, you should check it out. I am extremely happy I found this product. :)

[Naiadryade]

Hmm. I used to take it for insomnia and nightmares. I just chewed a few bits of the dried root (the kind processed with the beans) before bed. I remember reading it was good for greys but I'm not concerned about that (no greys yet at 25, though my mom certainly started going grey in her early to mid 30's), so I never really thought about it for hair. I should start taking it again--I still have some, and it was just out of laziness and forgetfulness that I stopped. It was pretty good for my sleep, and it can't hurt my hair either! Thanks for the reminder.

[Allychan]

I bought a bottle of the herb from a Herbal/Vitamin store just two weeks ago, it was Au$17 off the regular price so I figured I'd give it a try. Too early to tell just yet. My monthly hair photo is due in 6days so shall try and remember to report back then

[Allychan]

Just an update, I did my monthly pic today and I had some growth. The only two factors I changed was I started taking Fo Ti and started using my juicer again. Can't really say if it has had any effect on my grays though because I Henndigo them? Will see how I go next month

[Cheele]

Thanks for your update, Allychan. Interested to see how the grays turn out :)

[cathair]

Sounds very interesting, I could probably tell you within day if it is working the rate mine is turning white! What were the liver problems you heard of ChloeDharma? Were they from extended use or something else? I am very tempted to keep an eye out for this stuff, I feel another reading mission coming on.

[mazza]

I brought some He Shou Wu from my Chinese Herb shop. It was more curiosity then anything and didnt cost much. But one thing that I am lost is how do I use it? I asked the herbal shop guy and he said to boil for 20mins and drink for only 8 days. Not sure why he said 8 days. he did assured me it was safe to use. Mine looks like its been chopped into cubes. Do I have the raw form? sorry for the newbie question. Feels hard and the sides of it are a mix of very dark pale colours. I really want to dunk one small cube into boiling water and drink it but is this safe?

Heres a good thread I found from another forum:
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=118495

I defo gonna try this soon.

[rowie]

I'm subscribing. I'm all about trying plant based supplements. I just ordered a bottle from amazon and I ordered this one;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000Z96ZDC/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1367378236&sr=8-3&pi=SL75

This one had the best reviews in Amazon and so I went with this one. Once I get it, I plan to use it for a month to see if I notice anything. But I'll definitely report in this thread if I experience anything different along the way! This is so exiting!

[mazza]

Has anyone tried the Shou wu made by dragon herbs or the powder stuff?

[rowie]

I'm happy with the Fo Ti supplement I bought from Amazon. It's been a week and so far I'm not noticing anything, maybe I think i'm more relaxed and can think a lot clearer. I don't know if it's what they mean when people in general say that it can give you more clarity? It really smells like roots though and I take two daily. I think i'm going to continue with this.

[rowie]

Well it's almost a month now. I think I feel more relaxed in general. As far as hair growth, that I cannot tell because I don't check for any growth. How's everyone experiences so far?

[mazza]

cool thanks for the update. Any new hair sprouting any where?

I brought the exact the bottle you did. However, I got really bad side effects because I didnt sort out my IBS issue. I thought I had calm my IBS a few months back but it spiralled out of control and I had to go the doctors a few days after taking the fo-ti tablet.

I really wanted to see if the tablets would have worked but looks like I will never know :( I still maintain if your in good health and didnt have the stomach problems I did, its still worth a try.

[Allychan]

Mine seems to be still growing like a weed, but I ran out of Fo ti for nearly a fortnight, but am back on it again. Will try and post a picture in my album now

[Valkyriejae]

I took He Shou Wu for about a month after I realized that I had started experiencing hair loss as a side effect of a medication I was on. Even though I didn't stop taking the medication, the he shou wu stopped the excess shedding dead in it's tracks.
Honestly though, as much as I might want to get the benefits of it again, the stuff I'm able to get is the raw herb and it is one of the GROSSEST things I have ingested in my LIFE. I won't take it again unless my hair falls out...

[BlazingHeart]

I am always a little cautious about looking into treatments. Someone on the last page asked about the liver issues, so I looked them up.

According to the National Institute of Health, Fo Ti is toxic to the liver. It can cause hepatitis, and the symptoms are basically identical to acute viral hepatitis (fatigue, nausea, and pain on the upper right of the belly, sometimes diarrhea). Symptoms can start within a few days of starting to take the herb, or can appear as much as 6 months into taking it. The good news is that the symptoms generally go away if you stop taking Fo Ti. The bad news is that there have been a couple cases that were severe enough to kill people.

If you choose to take it, I guess you just have to watch out for these symptoms and stop taking it right away if you get them!

[Deliciosa]

I am always a little cautious about looking into treatments. Someone on the last page asked about the liver issues, so I looked them up.

According to the National Institute of Health, Fo Ti is toxic to the liver. It can cause hepatitis, and the symptoms are basically identical to acute viral hepatitis (fatigue, nausea, and pain on the upper right of the belly, sometimes diarrhea). Symptoms can start within a few days of starting to take the herb, or can appear as much as 6 months into taking it. The good news is that the symptoms generally go away if you stop taking Fo Ti. The bad news is that there have been a couple cases that were severe enough to kill people.

If you choose to take it, I guess you just have to watch out for these symptoms and stop taking it right away if you get them!

As I just started taking He Shou Wu I was alarmed by your warning, yet though I googled my fingers raw ;) I couldnt find anything that would prove that. There are reports saying that mild liver toxicity might occur but this is not the norm but the exception.
Could you point us into the direction where you read this.

I will report what He Shou Wu did to me, once I am once month in.

[Wusel]

As I just started taking He Shou Wu I was alarmed by your warning, yet though I googled my fingers raw ;) I couldnt find anything that would prove that. There are reports saying that mild liver toxicity might occur but this is not the norm but the exception.
Could you point us into the direction where you read this.

I will report what He Shou Wu did to me, once I am once month in.

Yes... Could you please post the link to where you read this? I wanted to order some supplement mixture with fo ti but now I'm a bit worried...

[summergame]

I am very curious about this supplement. I read that it can lower the blood pressure also. It has a lot of positive side effects!

[Wusel]

I am very curious about this supplement. I read that it can lower the blood pressure also. It has a lot of positive side effects!

Me too!!! More information about side effects and experiences, PLEASE!!! :hifive: :agree: :popcorn: :flower: :flower: :flower:

[Wusel]

Okay, I've ordered some. :) After hours of :google: searching and reading I think it's worth a try. I'll keep you updated :)
I've ordered a 3-month-supply bottle. Capsules. :)

[Wusel]

I've just received my Fo-Ti!!! :joy:
It's recommended to take it with a meal so I wait till dinner. We'll see. I keep you updated here :)

[Wusel]

I've started March, 30th taking it. I take it with my dinner. It's recommended to take it with a meal. I'm not allergic to it, no reactions, which is the first plus, and it's a small capsule, easy to swallow. I've taken 2 now and see no effect but I'm sure it takes a month, at the minimum, to notice something.

[Cate36]

I'm bumping this thread because I realise that I am taking this supplement.. and have been for about...oo.. 3 weeks now.. it's in a general supplement I am taking with other Chinese herbs - https://www.101.com.au/101-hair-formula. I have had very little shedding since taking it, but I am also using the tonic (from the same website) which I am sure is assisting as well.. Would be interested if anyone else has additional experience to add to this thread?