Living in Hong Kong I am surrounded by an abundance of fresh vegetables, live fish and meats on the streets. The melange makes for a very colourful neighbourhood – the aroma however, is another story.
One amazing thing I found here tucked away in a Chinese traditional medicine shop is a root herb known for its detoxifying benefits and ability to get rid of bloating – He Shou Wu (or Fo-ti Root).
He Shou Wu (pronounced huh show woo), also called Fo-ti Root is a powerful kidney and liver tonic and one of the most highly revered tonic herbs in Asian herbalism. He Shou Wu is the prepared tuberous root of Polygonum multiflorum, a plant that grows in the mountains of central and southern China.
The herb contains not only resveratrol, known for its antioxidant benefits, but an alkaloid that gently stimulates the adrenal gland and helps to detoxify the body. It has been used in Chinese medicine for a long list of ailments including atherosclerosis, constipation, fatigue, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood deficiency, nerve damage and inflammation of lymph nodes.
In need of a detox, I bought He Shou Wu (Fo-ti Root) in liquid tonic form and used 1-2 drops in water 3 times a day for 5 days (during those 5 days I cut out all alcohol). By day 3 my stomach was flat as a pancake with no sign of bloating and I had a surprising amount of energy. The drops are bitter but still palatable. For a really easy detox solution I’d definitely recommend trying it.
For those who are not in Hong Kong / China, He Shou Wu (or Fo-ti Root) is available online here
