Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Fo-Ti supplements? I've researched that this vitamin supplement from a root helps with kidney and liver functions, reverses the aging process, is an anti-inflammatory, increases fertility and is also an anti-depressant.

I've also gathered anecdotal information from people that it has helped with their joint pain and primarily it's been marketed as a supplement to reverse hair loss.

I'm primarily taking it for its potential benefits to the kidney and liver. Has anyone had any experiences with this supplement?

Does not reverse hair loss in most people, but it is a great tonic. I have been giving it my dad and he feels a little better and I take it. It has a mild laxative effect and one side effect (in males) is after a week, your libido increases.

Hi,

Thanks for your response.

Anyhow, I've been taking Fo-Ti for a week and here is what I've noticed:

1. Instead of a laxative effect, I've experienced the opposite, an odd bloating feeling of constipation.

2. Instead of increasing my libido, it has completely decreased it. In fact, sexual thoughts are extremely repulsive at the moment

3. It makes me sleepy during the day, so I take it before bed

Could it be that Fo-Ti is typically a supplement that has more of a positive effect on men than women? Of course, I'm taking a low dosage- 1200 mg/night.

I've read very good anecdotal experiences from males, but hardly any females.

You may be allergic to the sulfites which many manufacturers use to treat herbs like Fo-Ti.

Try another label, or try https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Their herbs are:
"Free from irradiation, ozone treatment, sulfites, gasses and other sanitary chemicals
Unsurpassable in color, depth, taste and aroma
Ethically wildharvested when not certified organic
Processed and handled according to strict organic standards
Grown, harvested, processed and handled by fun, knowledgeable and caring people
Lab analyzed for quality, safety and true botanical identity"

See this page for root and powder https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/f.html

See if your bottled herb declares no sulfites.

Common herbs treated with sulfites. (atractylodes root, chrysanthemum flowers, dong quai root, fo-ti root, honeysuckle
flowers, kudzu root, peony root)

__________________
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- Jim

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." �Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm taking high quality, test controlled Fo-it made by Solaray. They do not use chemicals additives or sulfites to their products

A component of Fo-Ti is chrysophanic acid anthrone and chrysophanol. These are major antifungal components. Perhaps you are taking too much to start with and causing a Herxheimer reaction.

It also contains Anthraquinone, which in large quantities can be hazardous, causing inflammation and chemical burning of your intestines. I don't want to scare you, because even aloe vera contains Anthraquinone. This is the component that has the laxative effect for several herbs, such as casgara sagrada and senna. Use of such over a period can cause laxative dependency. However, you are having an opposite affect of a laxative, so I suspect you are not taking so much Fo-Ti.

Fo-Ti shows high estrogen bioactivity in some studies. Would this be a problem for you?

There are so many benefits of Fo-Ti that makes be believe that the biggest effect, for you, is either that you introduced it too quickly to your system or that you are sensitive to one of its components. It may also have to do with exhausting certain levels of hormones or neurotransmitters. But I really suspect that this is a Herxheimer reaction (detox die-off).

I have some comments below:

Chrysophanic acid is an anti-inflammatory. Chrysophanol is an antimicrobial. Neither would cause a Herxheimer reaction, which primarily occurs during anti-biotic treatment which kills helpful bacteria and an overgrowth of fungus and yeast in the system.


Most laxatives contain derivatives of anthraquinone which works in a different chemical way to the aloe emodin by mainly negatively affecting the colon tract. The aloe emodin is different from the other derivatives such as dandrone, emodin and the senna glycosides.

I would like to know its interaction with melatonin, since melatonin also raises estrogen levels. Melatonin has also been known to raise glutathione levels as well. I'm wondering if there are countereffects that can occur between melatonin and Fo-Ti.

I do not think Herxheimer reaction has anything to do with I mentioned:
bloated, constipated effects.

Thanks for your input

Any antimicrobial can cause a herxheimer reaction. Chrysophanol is an antimicrobial. Therefore, it can cause such conditions. It doesn't matter whether the bacteria are good or bad or whether it is fungus. More toxins are released than the liver can handle. It depends upon your immune system as to how you handle it.

To clarify, anti-biotics is a type of antimicrobial that targets bacteria. Other antimicrobials such as anti-fungal, and anti-viral do not cause herxheimer reactions.

Herxheimer reactions are primarily associated with anti-biotics.

You can buy a Fo-Ti drink called shou wu chih at many oriental grocery stores:





Do not spend more than 5 dollars on it, sometimes you can also get it for 4 dollars. Tastes pretty good also. (I noticed amazon sells it for 22 dollars)

I bought an ounce of Fo Ti (organic) a month ago and I just remembered. Just made a tea (you simmer it slowly for 20 minutes). It has a semi pleasant taste. My dad is drinking it now also.

OK. I get it. To me Healing Crisis, Cleansing Reaction, Detox Reaction, and Herxheimer Reaction are synonymous. They share the same definition. These reactions occurs when the body tries to eliminate toxins at a faster rate than they can be properly disposed of. The more toxic one's bodily systems are, the more severe the detoxification, or healing crisis. It is characterized by a temporary increase in symptoms during the cleansing or detox process which may be mild or severe. You may feel worse and therefore conclude that the treatment is not working. But these reactions are instead signs that the treatment is working and that your body is going through the process of cleaning itself of impurities, toxins and imbalances. Perhaps I should just refer to it as detox reaction in the future.

I've had the most amazing results with Fo Ti. I started taking them about 10 days ago specifically for hair benefits. This is what I've noticed:
It has just about cured my insomnia.
I have had no hot flashes.
I feel extremely well and balanced, more so than I have in years.
My breast size has increased by 1/2", a pleasant side effect I was not looking for ) (sure enough, I looked up ingredients in breast growth supplements, and it's one of them)
Libido is mildly increased
Hair: I haven't noticed any beneficial effect yet, but was blown away by all the other benefits

I'm taking the Nature's Garden Fo Ti 3x/day, which adds up to about 1800 mg. Obviously, I was low on estrogen, and the Fo-Ti took care of all related issues. My question is if anyone knows how much Fo Ti would be too much?? I'm loosing more hair than I'm regrowing for sure. The sources I found on the internet recommend 4-8 grams, or 9-13 grams, but then say - or take 2 capsules... Well, the capsules don't add up to nearly that. While I don't mind experimenting on myself, I'm sure I can get in trouble with overdosing on estrogen... Any experts here??

He Shou Wu is a excellent herb but over rated for hair growth, it does make your hair darker, and is a excellent recuperative herb that should be cycled in it's use. As mentioned previously, it tonifies the kidneys and liver.