Stories of how Chinese herbs got their names are very unique.
This is one story about the herb multiflower knotweed root (pharmaceutical name: Radix polygoni multiflori).
A client I see in my acupuncture and Chinese medicine clinic in Richmond, who grew up eating wild herbs in his native Caribbean country, had a friend dig up some root herbs and bring them back to Canada for him.
He thought it would strengthen and benefit his health although he did not suffer from any deficiencies.
In fact, given he had a chronic gout condition, this herb only fed the damp-heat excess uric acid condition that causes gout. But his wife noted, with a great deal of humour, that he became particularly virile on taking this particular herb.
And the story begins…
In the year 812, a 56-year old man by the surname of “He” was pruning his trees when two plants a few metres apart suddenly caught his attention.
Mr. He thought it was very strange that the vines of these plants crossed over each other, not unlike a man and a woman embracing each other in love.
“There’s got to be a good reason for these plants to be growing in this way,” he thought.
He then dug out the roots of the plants and brought them home to cook and eat as food.
Mr. He had been so weak since childhood that he had never married. However, after consuming the roots for seven days, he began to have a desire for marriage.
After consuming the roots for a few months, he began to feel much stronger; and after one year of consumption, Mr. He’s grey hair all returned to black colour and he began to look like a young man.
At that point, Mr. He got married and fathered a baby boy.
Both the father and the son lived to over 130 years of age and his wife remained strong. The local Chinese named the tuber of multiflower knotweed he shou wu— the English translation is Mr. He’s black hair.
Sometimes he shou wu, when dug out of the ground, is shaped like a human being, although this is more rare.
From the point of view of modern medicine, the effects of he shou wu are similar to those of an adreno-cortical hormone.
It strengthens and corrects deficiencies in the liver and kidneys, toning up the essence and blood of a person.
I have found this herb clinically effective as a blood tonic, particularly for those with chronic fatigue, poor concentration, hair loss, brittle/greying hair, and iron deficiency.
Hence, it is no wonder he shou wu caused my client to develop aggravated gout symptoms and become particularly virile.
Although I don’t prescribe it as such, perhaps it can be an alternative to Viagra.
For more similar stories, visit Stories from the Sages at drmeelainling.com/resources. Mee Lain Ling is a family-focused doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with her clinic located across from Richmond Hospital.
