QuoteReplyTopic: AnaisSatin Posted: September 26 2004 at 10:50pm
The name of the herb tea that makes your hair black, what is it again? Is it something that I could go into an Asian grocery and stand a reasonable chance of finding? Does it make all of your hair black, or just the roots?
My hair is an interesting combo of 'Dr. Pepper' - looks brownish-black until you shine light on it. Pure black hair (especially the kind with bluish-black highlights) would be a dream come true!
Please answer with any info you may have - thank you in advance!
Make every day you have count, before the time comes for you to count every day you have.
Whoa! A thread addressed to me personally, that's an honor!!!!!!!
Sorry, just getting that out of the system. The herb is called Fo Ti, also known as Hou Shou Wu or Polygonum multiflorum. I don't think you could find it at an Asian grocer; instead you'd have to go to a certified Chinese herbalist. If you have a Chinese friend, they could help you find it.. otherwise some of these shops are pretty difficult to locate if you don't have connections.
Hou Shou Wu makes your hair grow in black-- it could start at the roots, of course, but I am not sure (my hair is too dark to tell). Greys go away as well. My mum makes HSW tea very frequently (maybe every week) in her crock pot. Her grey hair is almost all gone.
I don't know how non-Asians would react to the HSW, and some people have claimed "unwanted side effects". I do suspect, however, that those "unwanted side effects" are that change in hair color. I can't guarantee that HSW will make your hair as black as you like, but it really depends on your body chemistry. The thing with HSW is that it affects the blood circulation--they call it a "blood tonic"/ purifies the blood. Be careful as prepared HSW is also a sedative, triples sperm count, and increases female fertility.
Our hair turns blacker because the HSW makes Asian hair more "efficient" and uptake nutrients a little better. It may make your hair browner, or a more natural, original color for you. It may not make your hair black if black is not your natural color. At the very least, it could make your hair darker. In total, just expect anything and everything.
You'll also have to find the right variety. There are two kinds of HSW: prepared and unprepared. The prepared kind is what you want. and the older the prepared HSW, the better. (The unprepared kind has totally different properties, including that of a laxative.)
Other Names: He-shou-wu, Fo-Ti Parts Used: Active Compounds: The active constituents of fo-ti have yet to be determined. The whole root has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, according to animal and human research, as well as to decrease hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. Other fo-ti research has investigated this herb's role in strong immune function, red blood cell formation, and antibacterial action. The unprocessed roots possess a mild laxative effect.
History: The Chinese common name for fo-ti, he-shou-wu, was the name of a Tang dynasty man whose infertility was supposedly cured by fo-ti; in addition, his long life was attributed to the tonic properties of this herb. Since then, traditional Chinese medicine has used fo-ti to treat premature aging, weakness, vaginal discharges, numerous infectious diseases, angina pectoris, and impotence.
Remedies For: Fo Ti is used for:
Atherosclerosis Constipation Fatigue High cholesterol Immune function
Description: Fo - Ti is a plant native to China, where it continues to be widely grown, It is also grown extensively in Japan and Taiwan. The unprocessed root is sometimes used. However, once it has been boiled in a special liquid made from black beans, it is considered a superior and rather different medicine according to traditional Chinese medicine. The unprocessed root is sometimes called white fo-ti and the processed root red fo-ti.
Dosage: A tea can be made from processed roots by boiling 3-5 grams in 250 ml (1 cup) of water for ten to fifteen minutes. Three or more cups are drunk each day. Fo-ti tablets, each in the amount of 500 mg, are also available. Many people take five tablets three times per day.
Safety: The unprocessed roots may cause mild diarrhea. Some people who are sensitive to fo-ti may develop a skin rash. Very high doses may cause numbness in the arms or legs.
Wow! That's a mouthful...with my luck I'd get the skin rash! I'll look for both the processed root and the pills online...thank you again!
Make every day you have count, before the time comes for you to count every day you have.
No problem and happy to help : ) The processed root is a brownish red color though, so that should ease your looking. But I wouldn't hunt for this stuff online because the best/safest kind is found in person. Does your area have a Chinese district?
Unfortunately, no. There is a well-established Korean Supermarket here, as well as a Japanese grocery, but I've yet to hear about a Chinese one. The closest place that I think I could find would be in Orlando, so maybe I'll ask some of my friends to tell me exactly where to go to find the Chinese district the next time I head that way.
[edit: Oops. 'Chinatown' is a little rude, methinks...]
Make every day you have count, before the time comes for you to count every day you have.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Topic Options
Post Options
Thanks(0)
my LJ