• Helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels
• Supports healthy heart and blood vessels
• Supports normal nervous system function
• Mildly stimulates oestrogen production
• Slows down aging processes
• Helps to improve skin and hair
• Increases immunity to infections
• Youthful vitality boost
• Alleviates symptoms of menopause
• Plant antioxidant
• Rejuvenating effect

Now Foods Fo-Ti is a dietary supplement containing a high-quality extract of the Fallopia multiflora root. The plant has been used for ages in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as it exhibits cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties. Moreover, it has an antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The Chinese believe that it can also slow down aging processes in the organism and enhance psychophysical performance.

Fo-Ti also known as Polygonum multiflorum, Fallopia multiflora, Reynoutria multiflora, or tuber fleeceflower, is a plant native to Southeast Asia. In China it is known as He Shou Wu and very often used for the treatment of various ailments. It is also believed to have rejuvenating and invigorating properties.

Scientists have isolated over one hundred different chemical substances with pharmacological activity out of the Fo-ti root. The most significant ones are believed to be compounds of the stilbene, quinone, flavonoid, and phospholipid groups.

Stronger immunity
Fo-ti exhibits immunomodulatory activity and promotes the right immune response in the organism. It has a beneficial effect on the activity of NK cells, stimulates the production of B and T lymphocytes, and regulates the expression of the glycoprotein TNF-alpha. Additionally, it inhibits the activation of the protein complex NF-kB, which helps to reduce inflammation, often developed during an illness.

Fo-ti can also reduce the frequency of bacterial and viral infections. It inhibits the development of many bacterial species, including the strains that have developed resistance to the activity of antibiotics (like MRSA). It combats pathogenic viruses, Saccharomycetes, and fungi. Emodin, present in the root of the plant, inhibits the binding of some viruses with human cells and prevents the permeation of HIV to lymphocytes.

Support for the cardiovascular system
Scientific test results prove that Fo-ti can reduce the risk of heart and cardiovascular system diseases. It prevents atherosclerosis, cardiac arrest, strokes, and ischaemic heart disease. It proves excellent in the case of hypertension, high blood lipid concentration, and insulin resistance.

Scientists have proven that in people with hyperlipidaemia, Fo-ti extracts are able to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, although the exact mechanism of that activity has not yet been discovered. Moreover, one of the stilbenes present in the Fo-ti root has the ability to regulate blood coagulation – it has anti-aggregant properties and prevents the formation of clots. Another mechanism that allows it to protect the heart is its ability to seal the antioxidant barrier. It has been observed that in conditions of oxidative stress, some bioactive compounds isolated from the Fo-ti root prevent the exhaustion of glutathione, the most important antioxidant produced by the organism.

Neuroprotective properties
Fo-ti root extracts protect the central nervous system and, additionally, have a beneficial effect on such functions of the brain as memory, information assimilation, or speed of thought processes. It also slows down the deterioration of cognitive functions, which progresses with age and is typical of elderly people.

Scientists have demonstrated that the above-mentioned substance found in the Fo-ti root, emodin, works like popular huperzine A – it inhibits the activity of the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (AchE), which helps to enhance memory and cognitive abilities. It also protects neurons from the toxicity of glutamate.

Fo-ti reduces the risk of the two common neurological diseases, that is Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Stilbene compounds contained in its root reduce the deposition of beta-amyloid in the brain. The protein is the main structural element of senile plaques, whose formation is of great relevance to the aetiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Fo-ti also prevents the damage of dopaminergic neurons induced by heavy metals and toxins (the main reason for Parkinson’s disease).

Better quality of life
Traditional Chinese medicine considers Fo-ti to be an adaptogenic and vitalising plant. It is used for enhancing the psychophysical performance and “rejuvenating” the organism.

Fo-ti extracts exhibit mild oestrogen activity, which is why they prove fantastic for menopausal women. Supplementation can reduce the symptoms typical of menopause, such as hot flushes, sleep disorders, mood swings, or night sweats.

Healthier hair
The Chinese name for Fo-ti is He Shou Wu, which can be roughly translated as “He’s black hair”. Rumour has it that powdered root of the plant made the grey hair of 60-year-old Mr. He black again; the man became as vigorous as a teen again, had many offspring, and lived in great health for 106 years.

Scientists have demonstrated that Fo-ti extracts can in fact promote hair growth, enhance its pigmentation, and prevent premature greying. The mechanism of that activity probably consists in its ability to regulate the expression of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF-7) and induce the anagen phase in resting hair follicles.

To sum up, Now Foods Fo-ti is a natural and safe supplement whose benefits have been used for centuries by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its health-promoting properties are very well documented and confirmed by numerous clinical tests. The preparation is recommended particularly in anti-aging therapies. It supports healthy aging in the organism and prevents the development of many age-related diseases.