Preparing Fo-Ti root

[HoldorFold]

Am looking to get some Ho Shou Wu (Fo-Ti) and the good stuff seems pretty expensive so was thining of buying it raw and then preparing it myself.

There's very little online that I can find on how to prepare it. The best info I've got is that you have to boil black beans for 4 hours and then re-usethe blackbeans in less water for 3 hours, and then combine the brew and stew the Fo-Ti in it for several hours. The ratio seems to be 1-10 for blackbeans to Fo-Ti but it doesn't say how much water to use or how to dry the Fo-Ti afterwards and for how long.

That's all the info I've got, has anyone got a more detailed method for preparing Fo-Ti root?

[soaring crane]

Oh, I know absolutely nothing about fo ti but I've made tinctures from roots and if you'd like to know how to do that I can give you the info.

[Trunk]

buying it raw

Curious, where you are getting it raw?

I've only ever seen it prepared.  I'd be interested in trying it raw, fresh.

[Gerard]

Buy it prepared only, raw form is TOXIC:

 

Some info.

 

Please be very careful with what you are doing unless you are a trained TCM herbalist.

 

Try this place to buy the prepared form.

[HoldorFold]

Curious, where you are getting it raw?

I've only ever seen it prepared.  I'd be interested in trying it raw, fresh.

 

Not 100% sure yet, but I've noticed some cheaper options out there like here: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/fo-ti-root/profile

 

Where you can get a pound for $12.50... have to look around more there's probably even better deals elsewhere.

 

As far as I'm aware, processing it isn't that difficult. You just boil it in black bean brew...

 

* The best info I've found online about preperation is on this page: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/hoshouwu.htm

 

I'm just missing the water ratio and drying methods.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2015 by HoldorFold