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“Seeking beauty is human nature.” Shinning black hair will make a person look younger and more confident. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. had efficacy for making hair blacker. Possibly it was named in Chinese (Head Black) so cleverly that people could know its effect literally. In the past material medica records, it is classified as hematinic. Ancient medical scientists thought it can delay the process of aging, and there were prescriptions which used it as sovereign drug. Besides, modern experiments found that Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. could facilitate the growth of nerve cells, regulate serum cholesterol, and lower blood sugar. It also has therapeutic effect on curing neurasthenia, insomnia, and hyperlipidemia. The lecithin and large amount of starch contain in Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., the former can enhance the generation of hair melanin and the latter possess a good function of moist hair. Therefore, modern people consider that Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. not only for keeping good health by internal use but also for external beauty. With the development of modern biotechnology, there were already many health foods and hair products that made from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. in the markets. The market demand of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. was increases every year since the wide range of uses “Hair” played an important role in ancient Chinese Society and cultural perspective. Different hairstyles represented different races, ages, sexes, identities and social statuses. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is also an important indicator to judge physiological aging. So the color and quality of hair reflect one’s body health status. Field study showed that people’s cognitions of the effects of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb mostly stayed on the traditional medicine records of making hair blacker in our research, followed by enhancing immunity and anti-aging. This result coincides with that smooth and black hair is the symbol of youth in longevity culture. Interestingly, although the “millennium Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.” which absorbs the essence of sun and moon may not be existed, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. was included in the development of “plants of adjusting or enhancing immunity” and “medicinal plants with tonic effect” in the high potential medicinal plants for development in Taiwan. This fits in with the modern people’s care of health. The planting of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. might be a good choice for development to farmer because the climate condition was suitable for Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. growth and it may bring considerable economic benefits. We can create more valuable and more health-savor products by combining its image of keeping youth with creative cultural product development in the future.
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