When I asked my friend and TCM herbalist @kristinhauser to help me build a hair formula around He Shou Wu, the Chinese herb famous for restoring hair color and improving hair length and volume, she really delivered!

If you just want to know more about the tonic in layman’s term, this formula was crafted to:

-Promote Hair Growth

-Thicken the Hair

-Reverse Grey Hair

-Build the blood and Restore Vitality

-Replenish the body postpartum or post menstruation

If you are science brained like Kristin and I, here are the details, as explained by Kristin:

This hair tonic formula is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles of nourishing blood and essence (Jing) to support hair growth. He shou wu, or fleeceflower root, is traditionally known for its capacity to restore vital essence and even darken prematurely graying hair. Therefore, it is the guiding herb for this formula. He shou wu nourishes the Kidneys, adrenals and Liver.

Shan yao, or Chinese yam, is a traditional Qi tonic and used in this formula to strengthen digestion as well as support the action of tonifying Kidney Yin. It also has a mild astringent effect which supports maintaining essence (Jing)

Dang gui and bai shao, or angelica root and white peony root, are a very commonly used pair for nourishing and moving blood. Dang gui is warm and supports the Heart and Liver, while bai shao is cool and slightly sour acting primarily on the Liver. Here bai shao balances the other warming herbs of the formula and soothes the Liver while still nourishing Yin and harmonizing digestion. These two are also a great pair for regulating menstruation and soothing menstrual pain.

Sha ren, or cardamom, is added in a small dose to harmonize the formula and support the digestion of the other herbal constituents. It is used to prevent any stagnation that can be caused by tonifying herbs.

While this formula is primarily created as a hair tonic to be used over the course of several months, it has a wide variety of uses. It can be used as a post-menstrual tonic to support building blood after menstruation. It can also be used during the postpartum time for any signs of maternal depletion or blood deficiency.

**This formula was created by Kristin Hauser of Womb Medicine.**

Ingredients: Fleeceflower root (he shou wu, aka fo-ti), chinese yam (shan yao), chinese angelica root (dang gui), white peony root (bai shao), cardamom (sha ren), GF vodka

Use: Use intuitively 1-2 droppers twice a day. Use consistently for best results. Can be taken with or without food.

Note: He shou wu is processed with black soybeans and therefore may contain soy