He Shou Wu (Irregular longitudinal grooves)

He Shou Wu (Clumps, reddish-brown, wrinkled, strong fibrous root traces)

He Shou Wu Slices (Brocade pattern)

Black Bean Processed He Shou Wu Slices (Glossy)

Brocade Pattern Texture (Abnormal vascular bundles)

He Shou Wu Slices

He Shou Wu Slices

Nine Steaming and Nine Sun-drying Black Bean Processed He Shou Wu Slices

Black Bean Processed He Shou Wu Slices

【Name】

He Shou Wu

 【Source】

Song Kaibao

 【Common Usage Level】

B

 【Botanical Origin】

Tuberous root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., family Polygonaceae.

 【Characteristics】

The root is fusiform or tuberous, approximately 6-15cm long, with the enlarged portion having a diameter of 3-12cm. Its outer surface is reddish-brown or purplish-brown, with irregular longitudinal grooves, uneven and bumpy. Both ends have root traces, which are strongly fibrous. The texture is firm. The cross-section is light reddish-brown, with a larger woody core in the center, surrounded by several rounded abnormal vascular bundles.
The prepared slices are large transverse sections, approximately 2mm thick. The cut surface is reddish-brown, with a wrinkled and uneven surface. The abnormal vascular bundles and the central vascular bundles are clearly visible. The periphery has cloud-like patterns encircling it, commonly referred to as “brocade flower pattern”. The taste is slightly bitter and astringent. Processed He Shou Wu slices are brownish-black, and the vascular bundles may sometimes be vaguely visible. Cracks often easily form at the cambium layer, with more holes. The texture is brittle and easily broken, with a horny fracture surface.

 【Processing】

1. Raw He Shou Wu 2. Black Bean processed He Shou Wu

 【Identification】

Yi Fang Lei Ju: “He Shou Wu… the one with the above-mentioned source and superior color is the true and best.” Zun Sheng Ba Jian: “He Shou Wu, the red one is male, the white one is female, and the large one is the best.” Ben Cao Bei Yao: “There are red and white types with different qi. The one as big as a fist with five lobes is good. The one that is 300 years old is as big as a basket, and taking it will make you an earth immortal.” Pao Zhi Quan Shu: “Remove the beans for use. Nine steaming and nine sun-drying is the best.” Hua Tuo Shen Fang: “He Shou Wu (namely the red and white roots of Jiaoteng are good).” Liang Lie Jian Bie: “The one with light red flower patterns and deep shades of five longitudinal stripes on the surface, and the large one, is superior.”
The best ones are large, red inside and black outside, slightly bitter in taste without mold, heavy in weight, firm, and have a powdery fracture surface without cracks. Slices with a gelatinous luster are preferred.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Brocade Pattern (Brocade Flower Pattern, Cloud Pattern, Brocade Flower): Refers to a type of pattern on the cross-section of He Shou Wu medicinal material. The He Shou Wu cross-section has multiple rounded ring-shaped textures of different sizes, looking like brocade flowers. The larger one in the center is the normal vascular bundle formed by the normal growth of the cambium. The ring-cracked one in the cortex is the abnormal vascular bundle formed by abnormal growth. Normal vascular bundles and secondary abnormal vascular bundles are interwoven.

 【Category】

Roots