Quan Shen
StarPolygonum bistorta L. (syn. Bistorta officinalis Delarbre)
Traditionally used for
- Bowel health
- Menstrual & women's health
- Mood & calm
- Nerves & recovery
- Skin
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding; Disperses Swelling and Dissipates Nodules; Calms the Spirit and Settles Fright; Astringes the Intestines and Stops Diarrhea
Traditional Chinese Uses
Quan Shen (bistort rhizome, snakeweed) is a cool, bitter herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Heat toxin and stop bleeding. It treats carbuncles, boils, and skin infections from Heat toxin accumulation, and its hemostatic action addresses bleeding conditions from Heat in the Blood — including hematemesis, uterine bleeding, and hematochezia. Its secondary use for Wind-type convulsions and tremors reflects its calming action on internally generated Heat-Wind.
Western Herbalism Properties
Relationships
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Botanical Description
Polygonum bistorta (syn. Bistorta officinalis), commonly known as bistort or snakeweed, is a perennial herb of the family Polygonaceae found across temperate Eurasia in damp meadows, streamsides, and montane grasslands. It grows 30 to 80 cm tall from a thick, twice-bent (S-shaped) rhizome that is dark brown externally and pinkish within. Basal leaves are long-stalked, oblong to ovate-lanceolate with a truncate or somewhat decurrent base, while stem leaves are smaller and clasping. From early to midsummer, dense cylindrical terminal spikes of small pink to pale rose flowers are borne on erect, unbranched stems. The rhizome is exceptionally rich in tannins, which underlie its long-recognized astringent properties in both Chinese and European herbal traditions.
Active Constituents
Condensed tannins (flavan-3-ol / procyanidin derivatives)
Polyphenol (tannin)Concentration: High; total tannins roughly 15-20% of rhizome weight
The dominant constituent class, responsible for the astringent, antidiarrheal, hemostatic and topical anti-inflammatory actions of the rhizome.
Gallic acid and galloyl derivatives
Phenolic acidConcentration: Prominent among the phenolics
Antioxidant and antibacterial phenolic; a major component of the aqueous extract and a marker of the tannin-related phenolic fraction.
Chlorogenic acid
Hydroxycinnamic acid esterConcentration: One of the main phenolics of the aqueous extract
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenolic acid contributing to the extract's activity in in-vitro and animal models.
Catechins and procyanidins
Flavan-3-ol / proanthocyanidinConcentration: Significant
Flavan-3-ol monomers and oligomers that provide antioxidant and antibacterial activity and underpin the astringent properties.
Bistortaside A
Tannin-related glucoside (3-methyl-gallic acid glucopyranoside)Concentration: Isolated as a characteristic compound
A rhizome-specific tannin-related compound identified during phytochemical study, illustrating the galloyl-glucoside chemistry of the plant.
Quercetin-3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside
Flavonol glycosideConcentration: Minor
An antioxidant flavonol glycoside co-isolated with the tannin fraction.
Oxalic acid and organic acids
Organic acidConcentration: Present
Contribute to the sour/astringent character; high oxalate content is one reason prolonged internal use is limited.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Oral iron supplements and alkaloidal/mineral drugs
The very high tannin content of the rhizome can bind iron, alkaloids and some other orally administered drugs in the gut, forming insoluble complexes that reduce their absorption.
Clinical note: Separate ingestion of tannin-rich Quan Shen preparations from oral iron and alkaloid-based medications by at least 2 hours.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 5–10 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 【用法与用量】5～10g。外用适量。 【性味与归经】苦、涩，微寒。归肺、肝、大肠经。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, quoted verbatim; route and cautions preserved. Replaces a cleared category-filler value. |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (water extraction)
Parts: Dried rhizome
Roughly 4.5-9 g of dried rhizome decocted in water and taken orally to clear heat, resolve toxicity and cool the blood. Because of the high tannin/oxalate content, internal use is generally short-term.
Topical wash / gargle
Parts: Dried rhizome
A stronger decoction used externally as a wash or gargle for sores, mouth ulcers, sore throat and bleeding, exploiting the astringent, antibacterial tannin fraction.
Evidence Tier
Limited evidence · 2 studiesRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
0
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
0
In vitro / animal
2
1 verified · 1 unverified
Show 2 studies
- Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of bistort (Bistorta officinalis) aqueous extract and its major components. Justification of the usage of the medicinal plant material as a traditional topical agent
- Anti-inflammatory Activity of Polygonum bistorta, Guaiacum officinale and Hamamelis virginiana in Rats
Other / unclassified
0
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of bistort (Bistorta officinalis) aqueous extract and its major components. Justification of the usage of the medicinal plant material as a traditional topical agent
Characterized the tannin-rich aqueous extract of bistort rhizome (28 phenolics identified) and demonstrated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, providing a phytochemical rationale for its traditional use as a topical anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal agent.
Anti-inflammatory Activity of Polygonum bistorta, Guaiacum officinale and Hamamelis virginiana in Rats
In a rat model of inflammation, Polygonum bistorta extract showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, supporting the traditional use of the tannin-rich rhizome for inflammatory and swelling conditions.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications
It is not suitable for patients without excess fire and heat toxin. And its use is prohibited in patients with sores and ulcers with a yin pattern.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 53–72.
Historical Texts
Tujing Bencao (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica), Su Song
Song dynasty, 1061 CEBencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty, 1578References
- Pawłowska KA, Hałasa R, Dudek MK, Majdan M, Jankowska K, Granica S. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of bistort (Bistorta officinalis) aqueous extract and its major components . Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020) [DOI]
- Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Gray AI. Anti-inflammatory Activity of Polygonum bistorta, Guaiacum officinale and Hamamelis virginiana in Rats . Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (1994) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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