Fo-ti Vine shǒu wū téng · 首乌藤

Safety. The main caution is shared with its own root. The tuberous root of this plant (he shou wu) is one of the best-documented causes of herb-induced liver injury; the vine comes from the same species. Reports specifically on the vine are fewer, which is not the same as evidence of safety. Avoid it if you have liver disease or a history of abnormal liver tests. Stop immediately and seek assessment if nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, dark urine or unusual fatigue appears, since these are the signs by which this kind of injury is usually first noticed. Do not apply an external wash to broken or frankly inflamed skin. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Persistent insomnia or a persistent rash is not a self-treatment matter — see a licensed clinician.