Fo-Ti is an organic substance that is normally obtained from a plant native to Asia (Taiwan, Japan, and also China). Worth noting is that there's 25 mg of Fo-Ti in each serving of Folexin, a relatively popular hair supplement. Why is this the case? Let's find out.
Disclaimer: No part of this article should be treated as medical advice. The writer is not a medical doctor, only a researcher who has been studying natural herbs for a long time. Always consult your doctor before adding any new supplement to your schedule.A Bit of Background Info on Fo-Ti and Hair Use
Fo-Ti is simply known as He Shou Wu Native Chinese - meaning "Black Haired person called He." Mr. He is believed to have been an old villager who apparently restored his youthful vitality and black hair using this herb.
Indeed, an article appearing on WebMD indicates that this organic extract can affect the chemical balance in the body and even promotes anti-aging effects. The article goes further to state that "Fo-Ti might also increase the number of hair follicles and stimulate hair growth ( source).
Why It Is Included in Folexin
A 2017 study by a group of researchers and pharmacists and later published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research indicates that at safe doses Polygonum multiflorum (the scientific name for Fo-Ti) has the potential to reverse early hair graying ( source).
Another peer-reviewed study published in 2013 in the Journal of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters noted that the herb was shown to promote hair growth in vivo. The study, however, recommended the need to further investigations in exploring this as a potential therapeutic agent for the management of alopecia ( source).
Those two studies provide just a few reasons why Fo-Ti is such a key ingredient in Folexin i.e. reversing hair graying and promoting hair growth.
Potential Side Effects
We have seen commercially available supplements that contain as much as 420 mg of Fo-Ti. We've gone through reviews of such (on Amazon) and so far there isn't much anecdotal evidence pointing to a heightened risk of side effects among adult users.
And considering that Folexin contains a paltry 25mg of it, we think that there shouldn't be any major concerns with it.
That said, abnormally high quantities of Fo-Ti taken by mouth may lead to liver damage - warns this WebMD article (observed in a 5-year-old kid)
You should avoid any products with Fo-Ti if:
Bottom Line
Moderately-low quantities of Fo-Ti are found in Folexin. The idea is to support hair growth and reverse aging symptoms. The hair supplement is safe to consume but should NEVER be used by children, pregnant/breastfeeding mothers.
