Fo-Ti Purchase & Information

Alternative Names

Chinese Knotweed, Climbing Knotweed and Chinese Cornbind, Fo-Ti-Tient, Fo Ti Tieng, Flowery Knotweed, Ho Shou Wu, Shou Wu, He Shou Wu, Multiflora Preparata, Poligonum Multiflorum, Poligonum, Polygonum Multiflorum Thunberg, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Racine de Renouée Multiflore, Renouée, Radix Polygoni Shen Min, Renouée de Chine, Renouée à Fleurs Nombreuses, Rhizoma Polygonata, Renouée Multiflore, Shen Min, Shou-Wu-Pian, Shou Wu, Shou Wu Pian, Tuber Fleeceflower, Zi Shou Wu, Zhihe Shou Wu

Scientific Name

Polygonum Multiflorum

Why Do People Use Fo-Ti?

Orally - The oral utilization of Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-ti), such as fo-ti powder, can be used to treat cancer, lymph node tuberculosis, for the treatment of constipation issues, for hyperlipidemia, dizziness, hair loss with tinnitus, and prostatitis. Other oral uses of fo-ti are as a vital and blood essence toner, limb numbness, as kidney tonic, to fortify muscles, to cure bones disorders and tendons, hyperlipidemia, insomnia, weakness or soreness of knee and lower back and premature graying. Topical application of fo-ti is useful in carbuncles, for itching, sores and skin eruptions. Manufacturing - Extract of fo-ti is used as an active ingredient in skin care and hair treatment products.

Is It Safe To Use?

Likely Safe - Oral consumption of fo-ti powder is considered safe to cure a number of liver ailment. Regarding safety of topical application of fo-ti, there is lack of insufficient and unreliable information. Likely Unsafe for Infants - Oral consumption of Polygonum multiflorum is considered unsafe for infants. In case of adults and above five year old children, fo-ti may adversely affect the liver. Likely Unsafe for Pregnant Females - In pregnancy, oral consumption of fo-ti powder is considered unsafe. There are anthraquinone in fo-ti that can have stimulant laxative activities. Fo-ti is also responsible for several cases of liver damage. However, there is lack of information to rate the safety of fo-ti powder during pregnancy. Likely Unsafe for Breastfeeding Women - For breast feeding women, oral consumption of fo-ti powder is considered unsafe. Anthraquinone constituents of fo-ti adversely affect breast milk and ultimately it then adversely affects and causes loose motions in beast-fed infants. Fo-ti has also been found responsible for several cases of liver damage. However, there is lack of information to determine the safety of topical application of fo-ti products in lactating females.

How Effective Is Fo-Ti?

Regarding effectiveness of fo-ti, there is lack of reliable information available.

How Fo-Ti Works?

The most effective part of Polygonum multiflorum is the rhizome. Fo-ti is either utilized in raw form or prepared by sun drying and steaming. In raw form, fo-ti contains chrysophanol, anthraquinone derivatives, physcion, emodin and also a little amount of rhein. All of these constituents have stimulant laxative impacts, which most likely can help with constipation. Curing fo-ti diminishes these constituents by 42 to 96%. Some clinical experiments suggest that stilbene glycoside in the raw fo-ti powder may have liver protectant impacts which further includes hindrance of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). But the anthraquinones in fo-ti are changed to exceptionally reactive anthrones in the gastrointestinal tract, which may be responsible for hepatitis. Fo-ti has hypoglycemic impacts. Raw fo-ti may enhance the levels of serotonin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), dopamine, norepinephrine and also reduces the level of, monoamine oxidase-B and malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide these are believed to be anti-aging markers. Some proofs recommend that fo-ti may decrease thymus organ decay, enhance serum ceruloplasmin levels and repress atrophy of adrenal organs; upgrading cellular and nonspecific immunity and affect the immunosuppressive impacts of hydrocortisone or prednisolone. Other clinical experiments also suggest the alcoholic extracts of Polygonum multiflorum may increase total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, retard atherosclerosis, triglycerides and free cholesterol level as well. The liquid extract seems to restrain the replication of hepatitis B.

What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Fo-Ti?

Oral - Fo-ti powder may cause side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, loose motions and also may causes acute hepatitis with hepatocellular injury in some patients. Side effects like stomach pain, jaundice, exhaustion, queasiness and myalgias may appear after taking fo-ti for time periods extending from 1 to 180 days in spite of the fact that the average occurrence symptoms is around 30 days. Generally patients have elevated liver function tests (LFTs), which include ALT values more than ten times the maximum limit. Saturation of transferrin and ferritin may be raised because of discharge of iron from damaged hepatocytes. Different patients may have different signs including fever, thrombocytopenia, skin rash, arthralgias and pancytopenia. Increased LFTs and symptoms generally appear within one month after stopping the use of fo-ti.

How Fo-Ti Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?

Hepatotoxic Supplements and Herbs - A number of cases of liver damage have been reported due to fo-ti consumption. Combination of fo-ti with other hepatotoxic products may increase the potential risks of liver d damage. Few of these products are chaparral, comfrey, niacin, androstenedione, germander, kava, red yeast, pennyroyal oil and some other products.

How Fo-Ti Interacts With Drugs?

Fo-ti powder may show interactions with following drugs: • Antidiabetes Drugs • CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES • CyCYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES • CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES • CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES • Digoxin (Lanoxin) • Diuretic Drugs • Hepatotoxic Drugs • Stimulant Laxatives • Warfarin (Coumadin)

How Fo-Ti Interacts With Foods?

Not known.

How Fo-Ti Interacts With Lab Tests?

Cholesterol - Fo-ti may lessen the total serum cholesterol and its related lab test results. Colorimetric Tests - Fo-ti powder may change the urine color to red, pink, rust orange, purple etc. because of anthraquinone content in it. This effect interfere with diagnostic tests depending on the color changes of urine. Glucose - Polygonum multiflorum may lessen blood glucose level and its related test results. Liver Function Tests - Fo-ti may elevate the results of liver function tests. Potassium - Over dosage of fo-ti powder may cause adverse effects such as hypokalemia. Triglycerides - Raw form of fo-ti may decrease level of serum triglyceride and its related test results.

How Fo-Ti Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?

Liver Disease - Fo-ti powder has been related to various cases of liver disorders like hepatitis. In one of these cases, a patient with causal alcoholic cirrhosis developed severe hepatitis due to oral intake of fo-ti and died of hepatic failure. So, patients with some liver related diseases are advised to discontinue fo-ti. Surgery - Fo-ti powder may also affect level of blood glucose. Polygonum multiflorum may alter glucose control after and during surgical operations. So, patients are advised to discontinue fo-ti before two weeks of their elective surgical procedures.

What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Fo-Ti?

There is no typical dose of fo-ti.

Comments

Avoid confusing Fo-ti-Teng with Fo-ti as it doesn’t cotain fo-ti.

General Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.