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Herbsmith Rx Shou Wu Wan is a classical single-herb Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to nourish the liver and kidney yin and strengthen the hair and coat in dogs, cats, and horses. Comparable to Nourish Hair, Polygonum Multiflorum Pills, and He Shou Wu Formula, it nourishes the liver and kidney yin to strengthen the hair and coat. Based on the classical use of He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum / Fo-ti Root) as one of the most important liver and kidney yin and essence-nourishing herbs in the Chinese materia medica, it is well suited for pets and horses presenting with liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency patterns characterized by a dull, thin, brittle, or shedding coat, premature greying or lightening of the coat color, dry skin, and the general signs of liver and kidney essence failing to nourish and maintain the hair, skin, and coat. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and because He Shou Wu requires careful dosing and veterinary monitoring, your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Liver and kidney yin and essence nourishment: Nourishes the liver and kidney yin and replenishes the kidney essence (jing) using He Shou Wu as a deep yin and essence tonic, addressing the liver and kidney yin deficiency and essence insufficiency root of the coat and hair quality pattern, restoring the yin and essence that the liver and kidney require to nourish the hair follicles, coat, and skin through the liver's blood-storing and distributing function.
- Hair and coat strengthening: Strengthens the hair and coat through the liver and kidney yin and essence-nourishing action of He Shou Wu, addressing the dull, thin, brittle, or shedding coat that arises from liver and kidney essence failing to nourish and maintain the hair, and the premature greying or lightening of the coat color that reflects insufficient kidney essence failing to maintain the pigmentation and vitality of the hair at the follicle level.
- Liver blood nourishment: Nourishes the liver blood through He Shou Wu's blood-tonifying action, supporting the liver's blood-storing and blood-distributing functions and ensuring adequate blood reaches the skin, hair follicles, and coat through the liver's role in distributing blood to the superficial tissues, addressing the dry skin and lusterless coat that arise from liver blood deficiency failing to nourish the exterior.
- Kidney essence and vitality support: Replenishes the kidney essence and supports overall vitality through He Shou Wu's jing-tonifying action, addressing the deeper constitutional aspect of the coat and hair quality pattern in aging animals where kidney essence depletion drives progressive coat quality decline, premature aging signs in the coat, and the general decline in hair follicle vitality that accompanies chronic kidney essence deficiency.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Nourishes the liver and kidney yin and replenishes the kidney essence using He Shou Wu as both the sole and principal herb, one of the most important yin and essence-nourishing herbs in the Chinese materia medica, directly addressing the liver and kidney yin deficiency and essence insufficiency root that drives the coat quality decline, hair thinning, and premature greying pattern in dogs, cats, and horses, providing deep nourishment to the yin and essence layers that are too deficient to maintain the hair and coat.
- Secondary action: Nourishes the liver blood and tonifies the blood through He Shou Wu's simultaneous blood-tonifying action, ensuring the coat and hair-strengthening effect of the yin and essence nourishment is supported by adequate blood to distribute the nourishment to the hair follicles and superficial tissues through the liver's blood-distributing function, addressing both the deep yin and essence deficiency root and the more superficial liver blood deficiency manifestation in the coat and skin.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.
Suggested Use
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
- Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient: He Shou Wu / Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum / Fo-ti Root) (100%)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Shou Wu Wan is a single-herb formula built on the classical use of He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) as one of the most revered liver and kidney yin and essence-nourishing herbs in the Chinese materia medica, providing deep yin, essence, and blood tonification from a single concentrated source:
- He Shou Wu / Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) - Fo-ti Root / Fleeceflower Root: Nourishes the liver and kidney yin and blood, replenishes the kidney essence (jing), strengthens the sinews and bones, and is the most important single herb in the Chinese materia medica for addressing premature greying, hair loss, and coat quality decline arising from liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency; its name in Chinese folklore translates to "Mr. He's black hair," reflecting its classical reputation as the primary herb for restoring hair vitality, color, and strength through deep yin and essence nourishment at the liver and kidney level. He Shou Wu is used in its prepared form (zhi he shou wu) in TCVM practice to reduce its raw form's laxative properties and enhance its tonic qualities; requires veterinary monitoring due to its hepatic effects with prolonged or high-dose use, and must only be administered under veterinary authorization and supervision at appropriate doses for the individual animal's constitution and pattern.
Potential Drug Interactions
Shou Wu Wan contains He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum / Fo-ti Root), which has documented hepatic effects and is associated with hepatotoxicity in humans with prolonged use or excessive dosing, particularly in individuals with pre-existing liver conditions. Pets with known hepatic disease, elevated liver enzymes, or concurrent liver conditions should use this formula only under close veterinary supervision with baseline and periodic liver enzyme monitoring, as the hepatic effects of He Shou Wu in dogs, cats, and horses have not been extensively studied and individual sensitivity varies. He Shou Wu may also interact with hepatically metabolized pharmaceuticals by affecting liver enzyme pathways.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include hepatically metabolized pharmaceuticals, immunosuppressive medications, liver-metabolized antifungal medications, chemotherapy agents, and any medications where hepatic function monitoring is already part of the treatment protocol. When possible, establish baseline liver enzyme values before initiating this formula, and your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness, dosing, and monitoring frequency based on your animal's condition, hepatic status, current medications, and laboratory results.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Shou Wu Wan used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Shou Wu Wan is indicated for liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency patterns presenting as a dull, thin, brittle, or shedding coat, premature greying or lightening of the coat color, dry skin, and the general signs of liver and kidney essence failing to nourish and maintain the hair, skin, and coat. Comparable to Nourish Hair, Polygonum Multiflorum Pills, and He Shou Wu Formula, it is used when the coat quality decline reflects a deeper yin and essence deficiency pattern rather than a blood deficiency, qi deficiency, or damp-heat pattern, and is particularly relevant for aging animals whose kidney essence has become insufficient to maintain the coat vitality and color it once supported.
How is Shou Wu Wan administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended by your authorizing veterinarian for your animal's species, body weight, and individual pattern. Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dogs and cats receive the formula twice daily as prescribed; horses receive two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily for maintenance. Because He Shou Wu requires careful dosing and veterinary monitoring, the standard weight-based dosing guidelines serve as a starting point subject to veterinary adjustment based on the individual animal's constitution, hepatic status, and response to treatment.
How long does it take to see results with Shou Wu Wan?
Coat quality changes arising from liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency are among the slower patterns to show visible improvement, as the hair follicle cycle and coat renewal process takes time even when the underlying yin and essence deficiency is being addressed. Many pets show improvement in coat luster, texture, and shedding patterns within 6 to 12 weeks of consistent use, with more substantial changes in coat color and density requiring 3 to 6 months or more of sustained treatment. Your veterinarian will monitor both the pattern's response and the animal's hepatic values throughout the treatment course.
Is Shou Wu Wan appropriate for all coat quality concerns in dogs, cats, and horses?
No. Shou Wu Wan is specifically indicated for coat quality decline arising from liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency, and is not appropriate for coat problems driven by damp-heat patterns, blood deficiency without yin and essence involvement, external parasites, allergic skin disease, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiency, or other non-TCVM or non-yin-deficiency causes. Your authorizing veterinarian will perform a complete TCVM pattern assessment to determine whether the coat quality concern reflects a liver and kidney yin and essence deficiency pattern, and whether Shou Wu Wan or a different or complementary formula is most appropriate for your animal's individual presentation.
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