Polygonum multiflorum, Reynoutria multiflora.  何 首 乌 Hé shǒu wū   Fleece flower, Flowery knotweed  Family Polygonaceae  
何 首 乌  Hé shǒu wū- "Mr. He with black hair"Root Tubers      
      FLAVOR: Bitter, acrid, pleasant, sweet, harsh
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Tonic- Nourish Blood
1. Nourish Blood.
2. Tone up Liver and Kidneys, benefit semen and blood, strengthen tendons and bone.
3. Roots and leaves tonify the Liver and Kidneys, fortify the blood, strengthen muscles and bone and keep the hair black.[1]
4. Lubricate intestines, counteract poison of skin eruptions.[2]
INDICATIONS
1. Kidney or Liver deficiency signs- Premature grey hair.[1] Dizziness, ringing in ears. Rickets, anemia.[1] Neurasthenia.[1]
2. Sore Loins. Back ache and pains and aches of the knee joint.[1] Numbness of limbs.
3. High blood fat.
4. Lymphadenitis, traumatic bruises.[1]
5. Constipation due to dry intestines, lymphatic tuberculosis.[2]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Root tubers, stems and leaves 9-15 g each dose.[1] A suitable amount may be used externally.[1] Fresh tuberous root 6-12 g.[2]
夜 交 藤 Yè jiāo téng, 首乌藤 Shǒu wū téng- "Polygonum stem"   Stem
Nature- warm    FLAVOR: Bitter, acrid, pleasant, sweet, harsh
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Calm Spirit - Mild
1. Calm down spirits, nourish blood, activate channels.
2. Stems (Night crossover vine) calm nerves, and keep the channels open.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Insomnia, many dreams, pain in body due to Blood deficiency.
2. External applications for skin itching.
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Dry stalk 9-15 g.[2]
HABITAT: Found growing along stream bans and in valley shrub thickets.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial deciduous vine. Roots; fibrous and large fat root tubers that sometimes connect together in 1 lump, surface purplish-black, yellowish-white on the inside. Stem; climbing, suspended in mid-air. Leaves; singe, alternate, with long petioles, leaves narrow ovate or cordate, margins intact. Blooms; in autumn, axillary or terminal small white flowers appearing fo form panicle inflorescences. Achene; ellipsoid. 
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
References

Polygonum multiflorum Decreases Airway Allergic Symptoms in a Murine Model of Asthma.
Lee CC, Lee YL, Wang CN, Tsai HC, Chiu CL, Liu LF, Lin HY, Wu R.
Abstract
The root of Polygonum multiflorum (also called He-Shou-Wu in Chinese) is a common herb and medicinal food in Asia used for its anti-aging properties. Our study investigated the therapeutic potential of an extract of the root of Polygonum multiflorum (PME) in allergic asthma by using a mouse model. Feeding of 0.5 and 1 mg/mouse PME inhibited ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma symptoms, including airway inflammation, mucus production, and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), in a dose-dependent manner. To discern PME's mechanism of action, we examined the profile and cytokine production of inflammatory cells in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We found that eosinophils, the main inflammatory cell infiltrate in the lung of OVA-immunized mice, significantly decreased after PME treatment. Th2 cytokine levels, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, eotaxin, and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text], decreased in PME-treated mice. Elevated mRNA expression of Th2 transcription factor GATA-3 in the lung tissue was also inhibited after oral feeding of PME in OVA-immunized mice. Thus, we conclude that PME produces anti-asthma activity through the inhibition of Th2 cell activation.
PMID: 26916919 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X16500099 Am J Chin Med. 2016;44(1):133-47. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X16500099. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mechanistic Studies on the Use of Polygonum multiflorum for the Treatment of Hair Graying.
Han MN, Lu JM, Zhang GY, Yu J, Zhao RH.
Abstract
Polygonum multiflorum is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history in hair growth promotion and hair blackening. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect and the mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum in hair blackening. C57BL/6 mice hair fade was induced with H2O2 and used in this research. Hair pigmentogenesis promotion activities of Polygonum Multiflorum Radix (PMR, raw crude drug), Polygonum Multiflorum Radix Preparata (PMRP, processed crude drug), and their major chemical constituent TSG were investigated. The regulation effects of several cytokines and enzymes such as POMC, α-MSH, MC1R, ASIP, MITF, TYR, TRP-1, and TRP-2 were investigated. PMR group gave out the most outstanding black hair among all groups with the highest contents of total melanin, α-MSH, MC1R, and TYR. Promotion of hair pigmentogenesis was slightly decreased after processing in the PMRP group. TSG as the major constituent of PMR showed weaker hair color regulation effects than both PMR and PMRP. PMR, but not PMRP, should be used to blacken hair. The α-MSH, MC1R, and TYR were the major targets in the medicinal use of PMR in hair graying. Chemical constituents other than TSG may contribute to the hair color regulation activity of PMR.
PMID: 26640791 PMCID: PMC4657090 DOI: 10.1155/2015/651048 Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:651048. doi: 10.1155/2015/651048. Epub 2015 Nov 10. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
Polygonum multiflorum root extract as a potential candidate for treatment of early graying hair
Nguyen Dinh Thang, Pham Ngoc Diep, Pham Thi Huong Lien, and Le Thi Lien
Abstract
Despite Polygonum multiflorum (PM) has been experiencely used as a drug to treat early graying hair phenomenon in Asian countries for a long time, there is limited study examined the real biological effects of PM on hair graying in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated the effects of PM root extract (PM-RE) on melanin synthesis in human melanoma SKMEL-28 cells and embryos/larvae of wild-type strain AB zebrafish. We also preliminary revealed the molecular mechanism of early hair graying phenomenon in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our results showed that PM-RE significantly induced melanin synthesis in melanin-producing SKMEL-28 melanoma cells and also in zebrafish embryos/larvae at 4-day postfertilization through activation of MC1R/MITF/tyrosinase-signaling pathway. We also investigated the differences in genotype between graying hair follicle and black hair follicle of young peoples and found that early hair graying phenomenon may be related to downregulation of MC1R/MITF/tyrosinase pathway. Taken together, we suggested that PM-RE at safe doses could be used as a potential agent for the treatment of early hair graying and other loss pigmentation-related diseases.
 J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2017 Jan-Mar; 8(1): 8–13.
doi: 10.4103/2231-4040.197332 PMCID: PMC5288971 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promotion effect of constituents from the root of Polygonum multiflorum on hair growth.
Sun YN, Cui L, Li W, Yan XT, Yang SY, Kang JI, Kang HK, Kim YH.
Abstract
Two new compounds, gallic acid ester of torachrysone-8-O-β-D-glucoside (1) and (E)-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-xyloside (4), along with eight known compounds (2, 3, 5-10) were isolated from a 70% ethanol extract of Polygonum multiflorum roots. The structures were determined by (1)H and (13)C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC spectrometry. Extracts of P. multiflorum have been reported to promote hair growth in vivo. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of isolated compounds from P. multiflorum on promoting hair growth using dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which play an important role in hair growth. When DPCs were treated with compounds (1-10) from P. multiflorum, compounds 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 increased the proliferation of DPCs compared with the control. Specifically, compound 2 (10 and 20 μM) induced a greater increase in the proliferation of DPCs than minoxidil (10 μM). Additionally, treatment of vibrissa follicles with compound 2 for 21 days increased hair-fiber length significantly. On the basis of this result, further investigation and optimization of these derivatives might help in the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of alopecia.
PMID: 23896496 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.06.098 Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2013 Sep 1;23(17):4801-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.06.098. Epub 2013 Jul 11. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov