何首乌功效及作用

何首乌功效及作用：
 
1.与功效主治相关的药理作用 　　

(1)促进造血功能 　　
小鼠皮下注射首乌液0.2g，每日2次，连续给药3日，可使粒系祖细胞的产率明显高于生理盐水对照组。小鼠腹腔注射何首乌提取液50mg/kg连续给药3日，可使骨髓造血干细胞明显增加，还可显著提高小鼠粒一单系祖细胞产生率，并使骨髓红系祖细胞值明显升高。 　　

(2)增强免疫功能 　　
何首乌对强的松龙和环磷酰胺引起的老年小鼠脾、胸腺抑制性改变有明显对抗作用，使脾巨噬细胞的吞噬率和吞噬指数明显提高。饲喂首乌乙醇浸膏能明显提高老年大鼠外周淋巴细胞 DNA的损伤修复能力。小鼠灌服制首乌 6g/kg，连续给药 7日，能明显提高腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬能力，对强的松龙引起的吞噬指数下降，有明显的对抗作用。 　　

(3)降血脂与抗动脉粥样硬化 　　
高脂血症大鼠每日灌胃何首乌 4g/kg，连续 10日，能较显著地降低大鼠血清总胆固醇（TC）及血清甘油三酯（TG）的含量。对于高脂血症鹌鹑， 连续灌胃首乌4周，可明显降低血清TC含量和提高 HDL/TC比值。另有实验证明，高脂血症及动脉粥样硬化模型家兔，何首乌灌胃7日，不仅能降低TC含量，还能减轻动脉粥样硬化斑块形成。何首乌水提液 32g/kg喂养小鼠1个月，能明显提高 HDL- C水平。何首乌掺入到饲料中喂养大鼠，90日后，也可明显升高HDL-C，而TG和TC无明显变化，对β脂蛋白有明显抑制作用。何首乌醇提取液给快速动脉 粥样硬化鹌鹑灌胃，连续6周，血浆HDL-C/TC比值显著升高，大剂量组作用更为显著。各给药组均有延缓动脉粥样硬化的作用。何首乌降血脂与抗胆固醇作 用的有效成分包括蒽醌类、二苯烯化合物以及卵磷脂等。 　　

(4)保肝 　　
何首乌所含的二苯烯化合物对过氧化玉米油所致大鼠脂肪肝和肝功能损 害，肝脏过氧化脂质升高、血清谷丙转氨酶及谷草转氨酶升高等均有明显对抗作用，并使血清游离脂肪酸及肝脏过氧化脂质含量下降。在体外能抑制由ADP、 NADPH引起的大鼠肝微粒体脂质过氧化。何首乌还有增加肝糖原作用。生首乌、黑豆汁制首乌和清蒸首乌水煎液对醋酸强的松所致肝脂蓄积有对抗作用，可降低 CCl4引起的肝肿大，使肝重系数降低。 　　

(5)延缓衰老，现代调查有维生素E制止皱纹再生。 　　
何首乌水煎液喂服老年小鼠或青年小鼠，能使脑和肝中蛋白质含量明显增加，提高老年机体DNA修复能力。何首乌的醇提物及水提物能不同程度地增加老年大鼠胸腺胞浆蛋白和核酸含量。 　　何首乌延缓衰老作用与抗氧化作用有关。老年小鼠灌服何首乌水煎浓缩液，能明显增强血中SOD活 性。炮制对首乌抗氧化作用有一定影响，新法炮制品及老法炮制品均有明显提高小鼠全血及脑组织SOD活性作用，并能降低小鼠心、肝、脑组织中及血中LPO含 量，生品对SOD和LPO无明显影响。首乌醇提液或水提提液均能不同程度地提高老年大鼠心、肝、脑的组织SOD含量和降低LPO含量。 　　

(6)对内分泌的影响 　　
何首乌水煎浓缩液长期给小鼠灌胃，可使小鼠肾上腺重量明显增加。何首乌还有类似肾上腺皮质功能 的作用，对摘除双侧肾上腺的小鼠，可使其应激能力明显提高，减少冷冻引起的小鼠死亡率。制首乌对去甲肾上腺素饥饿小鼠肝糖原积累，有促进作用，使肝糖原明 显增加。何首乌对血糖的影响有一定的时效关系，给家兔口服首乌煎剂后30、60分钟内血糖升高达峰值，之后逐渐下降，6小时后血糖比正常低。大鼠肝胰岛素 受体具有高亲和力低容量，及低亲和力高容量两种受体，老年小鼠结合容量显著降低，但亲和力无变化。何首乌对容量和亲和力两个参数均无明显影响。 　　

(7)润肠通便 　　
何首乌生用，润肠通便作用强，其有效成分大黄酚可促进动物肠管运动。部分高脂血症病人服用后，出现大便次数增加和腹泻现象。 　　

2.其他药理作用 　　

曾有报道，何首乌各种炮制品（生首乌、酒蒸首乌、黑豆汁蒸首乌、清蒸首乌）水煎液体外对金黄色葡萄球菌、白色葡萄球菌、福氏痢疾杆菌、宋内氏痢疾杆菌、伤寒杆菌901、 副伤寒杆菌从白喉杆菌、乙型溶血性链球菌等均有不同程度的.抑制作用，其中生首乌煎剂抗金黄色葡萄球菌作用比其他炮制品强，制首乌水煎剂对白色葡萄球菌， 酒蒸首乌水煎剂和地黄汁蒸首乌水煎剂对白喉杆菌的抑制作用比其他首乌强。何首乌对流感病毒有一定抑制作用。此外，何首乌还有减慢心率、扩张冠脉、抗心肌缺 血等作用。 　　综上所述，与何首乌补肝肾，益精血，乌须发，强筋骨功效相关的药理作用是促进造血功能，提高机体免疫功能，降血脂，抗动脉粥样硬化，保肝，延缓衰老，影响内分泌功能，润肠通便等作用。何首乌功效作用的物质基础主要为磷脂、蒽醌类、葡萄糖苷类等成分。

Effects of He Shou Wu 何首乌

I did some search on the effects and usage of He Shou Wu 何首乌, and it seems like it has much other effects and usage of it than turning gray hair back to its original colors.  Read its other usage below:

 

中药功效

解毒，消痈，润肠通便。用于瘰疠疮痈，风疹瘙痒，肠燥便秘；高血脂。 　　

1、骨软风疾（腰膝疼痛，遍身瘙痒，行步困难）。用何首乌（以有花纹者为最好）、牛膝各一斤，同在好酒中泡七夜，取出晒干，捣烂，加枣肉和成丸子，如梧子大。每服三十至五十丸。空心服，酒送下。 　　

2、皮里作痛（不知痛在何处）。用何首乌末，姜汁调成膏涂搽，搽后用布包住，以火烘鞋底熨按。 　　

3、自汗不止。用何首乌末，调唾液，封脐上。 　　

4、肠风下血。用何道乌二两，研为末。每服二钱，饭前服，米汤送下。 　　

5、破伤血出。用何首乌末敷上即止。有特效。 　　

6、瘰疬结核（或破或不破，下至胸前者皆可治），用何首乌根洗净，每日生嚼，并取叶捣烂涂患处。 　　

7、痈疽毒疮。用何首乌不限量，在文武火上熬煎，加酒等量，再煎开几次后，存酒，随时饮用；取药渣焙干，研为末，以酒煮面调成丸子，如梧子大。每服三十丸，空心服，温酒送下。病愈后，药可常服。 　　

8、大风疠疾。用何首乌（以大而有花纹者为好）一斤，泡淘米水中七天，反复蒸、晒数次，加胡麻四两，再蒸再晒，研为末，每服二钱，酒送下，一天服二次。 　　

9、疥癣。用何首乌、区叶等分，水煎浓汤洗 浴，可以解痛、生肌肉。用何首乌茎、叶煎汤洗浴，也有效。　

Side Effects of He Shou Wu 何首乌

It seems like even TCM may not be without side effects.  Here's some side effects that He Shou Wu, a herbal remedy most widely used for returning gray hair back to its original color, may have.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the herbal remedy he shou wu (何首乌, sometimes known as fo ti) is prescribed to enhance general health and increase life span, but its claim to fame is that it also is said to return gray hair to its original color. The direct English translation of he shou wu is "Black-haired Mr. He." In Chinese medicine theory, the kidneys control the growth and color of hair, and he shou wu is said to benefit the liver and kidneys. A commercial product called Fo Ti does not contain he shou wu but is often confused with it because of the similarity in names. Fo Ti can have severe side effects that sometimes have been attributed wrongly to he shou wu due to this confusion. As with any single herbal remedy, though, he shou wu may have side effects of its own.

Loose Stools

He shou wu is sometimes used as a stool softener. It contains the substance emodin, which is a laxative and also is thought to be a liver protective agent. If you take too much or are sensitive to this herb, you may get diarrhea. This effect is primarily connected with taking the unprocessed root form of he shou wu.

Skin Rash

Some people who are sensitive to he shou wu may develop a skin rash. This is rare, but it is a recorded side effect that occurs when high doses of the herb are consumed.

Numbness

Reports of numbness in the arms and legs have been connected with the use of he shou wu. This effect only occurs when 15 or more grams of he shou wu are consumed in a daily dose, far above those recommended in the professional literature.

Estrogenic Effect

He shou wu has a moderate estrogenic effect, meaning it mimics the effect of the hormone estrogen in women. Even though he shou wu does not elevate human estrogen levels, it contains substances that can stimulate the growth of cancers that are sensitive to estrogen-like substances, so women battling certain cancers should not take it.

Liver Dysfunction

Rare reports of liver problems such as jaundice, abnormal function and hepatitis have been connected with the use of he shou wu. In some of these cases, the patients were taking a modified version of he shou wu called Shen-Min. This product for hair loss contains he shou wu combined with other herbs.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/149915-side-effects-of-he-shou-wu/#ixzz1F4XH8PE3

Natural Hair Loss Remedy - Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Chinese medicine is effective at treating hair loss and the underlying conditions that cause hair loss. Many Chinese herbs have a record of promoting hair growth that spans thousands of years as effective hair loss remedies. How do Chinese herbs restore the hair?

They build blood, balance hormones, restore Kidney Energy, and direct nourishing blood to the scalp.

Hair loss and thinning hair can result from many causes including stress, poor nutrition (especially a Vitamin B and mineral deficiency), hormonal imbalance, certain prescription drugs,  thyroid disease, cancer (and more specifically cancer treatment), and genetics. All of these hair loss conditions can occur in both men and women. Much like heart disease prevention, even hair loss based in genetics can be addressed with Chinese medicine.

Genetic pattern baldness is often attributed to the chemical DHT (5-alpha Di-HydroTestosterone). It has been found that increasing levels of DHT in hair follicles cause a reaction that reduces blood flow to the follicle and the impairs the growth cycle of  hair. This results in follicle shrinkage and finer and shorter hairs, eventually the follicle dies and stops producing hair. Areas that are 'shiny bald' no longer have live follicles. Areas with shorter, fuzzy, fine hairs still have live follicles that may respond to Chinese tonic herb remedies.

In Chinese Medicine, hair is a direct reflection of the Kidney energy, Liver energy and Blood: a lack of circulation or insufficient amounts of Blood can result in the loss of hair. The Kidney and Liver influence the hormones strongly. The conditions of the hair follicles can also be affected by the toxicity of the blood, and the Liver and Kidney are important organs of elimination of toxins.

The first step in treating hair loss naturally is to improve circulation to the head/scalp, as well as improve the quality of the blood with specific natural herb remedies such as fo-ti or he shu wu, drynaria, dang gui, sesame, and ligustrum. Early intervention is the key to limiting hair loss and promoting hair re-growth. Herbal tonic treatment can vary from 3-12 months depending on the severity of the condition and the length of time that the condition has existed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine can effectively treat hair loss & thinning hair with Chinese tonic herb remedies. The main Chinese herb remedy for hair loss in this formula is he shou wu, or fo ti. It is the best Chinese herb for hair, known for its beneficial effects on strengthening the hair, building Blood, and reversing graying of the hair. Other ingredients include the highly esteemed reishi mushroom to enhance the Kidney energy, Ligustrum to improve blood circulation of the scalp, and other Chinese herbs that restore beautiful hair and skin.

The Chinese way of naturally healthy hair rely on tonic-type herbs that are used over time. Along with proper living habits such as good sleeping patterns, exercise such as walking, tai-qi or yoga, and organic whole foods; natural Chinese tonic herb remedies play an important role in healthy hair.

This natural Chinese herb remedy for hair loss and thinning hair will restore overall health and vitality by supplying the basic building blocks through chemical constituents present in the herbs that are necessary to nourish the hair and skin through the Liver and  Kidney systems. After all, the whole body must thrive in order to have luscious, strong, healthy hair.

The main Chinese herb for hair is he shou wu, or fo ti. It is the best Chinese herb for hair, known for its beneficial effects on strengthening the hair, building Blood, and reversing graying of the hair. Other ingredients include the highly esteemed reishi mushroom to enhance the Kidney energy, Ligustrum to improves blood circulation of the scalp, and other Chinese herbs that restore beautiful hair and skin.

Along with proper living habits such as good sleeping patterns, meditation, exercise such as walking, tai-qi or yoga, and organic whole foods, natural Chinese tonic herbs play an important role in healthy hair and healthy aging skin care.

Herbs for Hair Loss:

Polygonum multiflorum - he shou wu - Fo Ti
The Chinese say that long-term use of this famous "longevity herb" helps return an aging person to youthfulness, as it strengthens the back. The literal translation of the name he shu wu is "black-haired Mr. He" refering to the Chinese legend where Mr. He returned from living in the woods for some time, and his grey hair had turned to black. As it turned out, Mr. He had been consuming fo ti herb to survive. Fo ti is known as the best herb to restore hair color and nourish the skin, hair, teeth and nails. This top Chinese herb is a classic essence tonic and major blood tonic that cleanses the blood.

Ganoderma lucidum - ling zhi - Reishi Mushroom
The Reishi mushroom has an unparalleled reputation in the Orient as the ultimate herbal substance often used to cure immune disorders. For over two thousand years it has been sought-after by mountain sages and by the emperors of China known as the best anti-aging herb. In the first Chinese herbal text (Shennong’s Pharmacopeia) it says that "continuous consumption of Reishi makes your body light and young, lengthens your life and turns you into one like the immortal who never dies." Reishi was traditionally called "the mushroom of immortality."

Schisandra chinensis-wu wei zi
Schizandra is a famous Tonic herb historically consumed by Chinese royalty. It is renowned as a beauty tonic and is considered to be one of the best anti aging, youth preserving herbs. It has been one of the top herbs used for centuries to make the skin soft, moist and radiant.

Ligustrum lucidum-nu zhen zi
A Yin Kidney and Liver tonic herb which is said by the Chinese to prolong life. It is a significant immune enhancing agent. Ligustrum herb is also used as a blood tonic that helps to enhance hair restoration.

Thallus algae-kun bu-Seaweed
Seaweed has many micronutrients & minerals necessary for good health and beautiful hair, skin and nails.

Morus Albus-sang shen-Mulberry fruit spike
Builds blood, nourishes yin and moistens the intestines. Traditionally used in China for premature graying of the hair, mulberry increases nourishment for hair growth.

Urtica dioica - Stinging nettle
Highly nutritious herb containing a multitude of minerals necessary for proper hair growth.

Psoraleae corylifolia-bu gu zhi
A popular Chinese herb to restore premature gray hair to it's natural color. Psoralia also prevents hair loss. As a Yang Tonic, it strengthens Kidney energy.

Ligustrum chuanxiong-chuan xiong- Lovage Root Wallichi
Invigorates the Blood and directs Blood upward, allowing nourishment to reach the head and enhance hair growth.

Rehmannia glutinosa-shu di huang
A Kidney tonic and longevity herb and is found in "anti-aging" formulations for longevity, and rejuvenation. It is a first-class blood tonic that helps to boost hair growth, and benefit sexual functions in men and women.

Dendrobium-she hu-Orchid
This variety of Chinese orchid is an excellent Yin tonic and longevity herb.  Dendrobium is the top herb for restoring moist skin and repairing skin at a cellular level, thus generate beautiful skin. Dendrobium is one of the top Chinese anti-aging herbs.

Angelica sinensis - dang gui
A common herb for invigorating the blood and qi in the Lower Jiao, especially when blood has been stagnated by cold. Dang Gui is considered the best herbs for building blood.

Eclipta prostrata-han lian cao
A rejuvinating tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin, eclipta supports healthy hair growth. Protects the Liver.

Sesame Indicum-hei zhi ma-Black Sesame Seed
Black sesame seed is a fabulous longevity herb. In addition to its essence-building capacity, it enhances hair growth.

Alisma plantago-aquatica-ze xie-Water Plantain Root
Alisma herb has mild tonic qualities, especially affecting the Kidney/Bladder, and the Spleen/Stomach.

Poria cocos-fu ling
Poria is a fungus that grows on the roots of pine trees widely used in Chinese herbalism to leach out dampness, drain phlegm, and move fluid stagnation.

Salvia miltiorrhiza-dan shen-Red Sage Root
Salvia is a "blood vitalizing" herb used to improve circulation and break up blood stagnation. Recent research in China and Japan indicates that salvia improves the condition and functioning of entire cardiovascular system. It is a famed longevity herb.

What Causes Hair Loss According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, healthy hair depends on an abundant flow of qi and blood to the scalp and hair roots. If this nourishing flow is compromised, the hair will suffer.

Diminished nourishment is most usually caused by:

Blood Deficiency (Blood vacuity)
Blood is made through the digestive process, and blood deficiency can be caused by dietary, or digestive insuficiencies. If the blood lacks nourishing components the best remedy is He Shou Wu, also known as Fo Ti, or polygani multiflori, or fleeceflower root.

Constrained flow (Qi stagnation)
Stress and emotional constraint can restrict the flow of qi and blood in the chest, neck, shoulders, face and head. Massage, meditation, and relaxation techniques can help restore this flow.

Patency of the vessels
The size, diameter, and health of the tiny blood vessels that conduct nourishment to the hair can also play a part. Genetic factors as well as acquired factors can weaken the patency of the vessels making these capillaries fragile or narrow.