The price of He Shou Wu (Fallopia multiflora) is affected by place of origin, specifications and market conditions

He Shou Wu is the dried tuberous root of the Polygonaceae plant Fallopia multiflora, and it is also a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal material in China, produced in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi and other places. Divided by processing method, the common types on the market fall into two major categories, raw He Shou Wu and processed He Shou Wu; the two have different uses and their prices differ noticeably as well.

There is no unified standard for the price of He Shou Wu, and it is usually affected by multiple factors. Place of origin and source are an important part: because different production areas differ in climate and soil conditions, the plumpness and quality of the tuberous roots also vary; wild resources are relatively scarce, and prices are generally higher than for cultivated goods.

Specifications and quality also directly affect the market. Size, cross-sectional texture, degree of dryness, and whether the fibrous roots have been removed and the material washed clean are all bases for grading; goods that are large, full of starchy powder, and have a cloud-brocade pattern on the cut surface are more favored by the market. Processed He Shou Wu has gone through an extra processing step, so its selling price often diverges from that of the raw goods.

From the overall market situation, the prices of traditional Chinese medicinal materials fluctuate with supply and demand, the volume of new goods coming to market, and inventory conditions, and He Shou Wu is no exception; before purchasing, it is more reliable to compare several sellers. It should be noted that when choosing, do not fixate only on low prices, because goods priced too low may involve passing off inferior products as good ones; it is advisable to buy through proper channels and to pay attention to the completeness of information such as place of origin and specifications. In addition, raw He Shou Wu and processed He Shou Wu have different emphases in their effects, so before use it is best to consult a professional physician or pharmacist and avoid taking them blindly.