Fo-Ti Root Powder (Polygonum multiflorum; He Shou Wu) 1 lb: K

This is Frontier's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Some Frontier packs are double wall wax-lined paper. Used as a tea or decoction. Fo-ti use is ancient in China, especially as a tonic and restorative for the elderly. It is identified as a Qi tonic, that is, an herb that benefits the immune system and has hormonal effects. It is a traditonal treatment for poor sleep. The herb is regarded as a slow-acting sedative, that is, a systemic sedative the benefits of which are felt over a period of months. Fo-ti is rich in phospholipids (such as lecithin), anthraquinones (rhein, emodin and chysophanol), tannins, and tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside. Animal and test tube research has confirmed traditional Chinese usages, showing Fo-Ti to lower blood fat, increase red blood cell production, fight bacteria, stimulate immune functions and have a mild laxative effect. Oklahoma State University was assigned a U.S. patent (Patent 5, 531, 991 issued July 2, 1996) for an extract of Polygonum multiflorum designed to treat hyperglycemia. The extract was developed by Professors Nan-Zheng Cheng and Barbara Stoecker. Three fractions of extracts were shown to potentiate insulin activity in fat cell assays and lower blood glucose levels in animal studies.