Side effects of Baishouwu

The side effects of Baishouwu are unfamiliar to many people, because many people do not understand Baishouwu as a product. We often see advertisements for Sunsilk shampoo on TV, and in these advertisements, we often hear the term Polygonum multiflorum. So, what is the connection between Baishouwu and Polygonum multiflorum? This is a question that many people will think about. In fact, to put it simply, Baishouwu is a type of Polygonum multiflorum.

Polygonum multiflorum is classified according to color. It is usually divided into two types: Red Shouwu and White Shouwu. These two types of Polygonum multiflorum are the same varieties, except for the different colors, they also have great differences in other aspects, especially in their functions and effects. Speaking of effects, let’s introduce the side effects of White Shouwu.

Baishouwu has certain toxic side effects, which are mainly because it contains toxic anthraquinones, such as rhein, chrysophanol, rhein, and physophanol methyl ether. If taken in excessive doses, it will irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms such as intestinal rumbling, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, paroxysmal tonic spasms, restlessness, convulsions, and even respiratory paralysis may occur.

White Shouwu has an inhibitory effect on the increase of serum cholesterol in experimental rabbits, can reduce the formation of arterial intimal plaques and lipid deposition, thereby alleviating the formation of atherosclerosis; it has an excitatory effect on isolated frog hearts. It can also slow down the heart rate and increase coronary blood flow; it can enhance immune function, mainly by enhancing the phagocytic function of the mononuclear phagocyte system and cellular immunity; it also has the effects of strengthening nerves, strengthening the brain and improving intelligence; it can first increase and then decrease the blood sugar of animals; it promotes the production of red blood cells; it promotes intestinal peristalsis and has a laxative effect, etc. After processing, the sugar content of raw Polygonum multiflorum increases, the content of bound anthraquinone derivatives decreases, and the content of free anthraquinone derivatives increases significantly, so the laxative effect no longer occurs.

Adverse Reactions

Clinically, White Shouwu has fewer side effects, but some people may experience some adverse reactions. Among cases with adverse reactions, most cases may experience loose stools, a few patients may have mild abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and some patients may experience numbness of the limbs after taking large doses of White Shouwu, and may also have symptoms of rash.

Common adverse reactions to Baishouwu are skin allergies and liver damage. The symptoms include rash, local itching, pigmentation, and sometimes fever and nausea.

In daily life, most of us only see and know the effects and functions of Baishouwu, as well as the benefits of these effects and functions to our human body, but we seldom think that this thing that we may use in our daily life actually has some side effects. Moreover, Baishouwu has many side effects, some of which are very bad for everyone's health. Therefore, everyone should be careful when using Baishouwu in the future.