A long time ago a man named He Shouwu lived in present-day Henan Province, in the prefecture Nanhe. His grandfather was called He Nengxi and his father He Yanxiu. His grandfather’s original name was He Tianer and his constitution was extremely weak. He suffered from many ailments and was unable to father any children. He was already 58 years old and not married yet. Instead he lived as a hermit with his master in the mountains. One day he slept outside in the forest drunk from wine. In his intoxication he saw two vines, being separated by a metre, approach one another and mutually embrace in the moonlight. After a while they disengaged, only to wind around each other again. He Tianer observed the natural phenomenon and spectacle in awe and surprise. The next morning, he dug out the plant with its root and took it with him. He asked anyone he met whether they recognised this plant, however no one could identify it. Then he suddenly ran into an old recluse from the mountains. He Tianer reported his story to the recluse and what he witnessed at night.
Consequently, the elder said:
“It is an extraordinary event for someone at such advanced age and without children to see two vines, which are one metre apart, approach and embraced one another. It seems to be a sign from Heaven. Why don’t you try taking the plant as medicine? “
Thereupon he ground down the dug-out root into a powder and ingested three grams every morning with wine on an empty stomach. After a treatment course of one week he felt the wish to be with a woman and the thought of founding a family crossed his mind. After taking the herb for several months he felt invigorated. This encouraged him to continue the intake and he even doubled the dosage. After one year had passed all his ailments were completely cured and his hair previously white turned glossy black. Even his pale and wrinkled face was shining with a youthful glow. Thereupon he moved back to his hometown, found a woman and married. Within ten years he fathered several sons. That is why he changed his name from Tianer [田兒] to Neng Si [能嗣], which means “being able to have posterity”. The knowledge of this incredibly powerful root was passed on within the He-Clan from generation to generation. His eldest son, Yanxiu, also ingested the remedy just like his father and both reached the ripe age of 160 years. Yanxiu called his eldest son He Shouwu which means Black Head. He Shouwu also took the medicine just like his grandfather and father and birthed many sons as well. He reached 130 years and even at an advanced age his hair was not the slightest grey. A neighbour of He Shouwu eavesdropped on the secret family recipe and applied it himself afterwards. He also became very old and spread the news of this miraculous effect of this plant. Since the root was a previously unknown plant, it was named after the family’s grandson He Shouwu [何首乌].
[Polygonum multiforum, common name: Fleeceflower]
