The effect of Chinese herbal medicine Houttuynia

What are the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Houttuynia cordata? We know that Houttuynia cordata is a very famous herb. The medicinal properties of Houttuynia cordata are that it can clear away heat and detoxify. Houttuynia cordata can treat diseases such as pneumonia. Eating Houttuynia cordata regularly can also be a diuretic. Houttuynia cordata has good antibacterial benefits, and Houttuynia cordata can prevent viral invasion. Eating Houttuynia cordata can effectively prevent radiation.

The functions and effects of Houttuynia cordata are very comprehensive. We can use Houttuynia cordata in many places, so we must be good at using Houttuynia cordata. Houttuynia cordata can not only be used as medicine but also as food. Many dishes can be made with Houttuynia cordata.

Houttuynia cordata is a herbal medicine included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The herbal medicine comes from the dried aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb., a plant of the Saururaceae family. The flowers are harvested in summer when the stems and leaves are lush and the flowers are numerous, and then the impurities are removed and the flowers are dried in the sun.

Herbal properties: The stem is oblate and cylindrical, twisted, 20 to 35 cm long, and 0.2 to 0.3 cm in diameter; the surface is brownish yellow, with several longitudinal ridges, distinct nodes, and residual fibrous roots on the lower nodes; it is brittle and easy to break. The leaves are alternate, curled and wrinkled, and heart-shaped when flattened, 3-5 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide; the tip is gradually pointed, the margin is entire; the upper surface is dark yellow-green to dark brown, the lower surface is gray-green or gray-brown; the petiole is slender, and the base is fused with stipules to form a sheath. The inflorescence is terminal spike, yellow-brown. When crushed, it has a fishy smell and a slightly astringent taste. Spicy, slightly cold. It enters the lung meridian. It has the functions of clearing away heat and detoxifying, eliminating carbuncle and discharging pus, and promoting diuresis and relieving stranguria. It is used for lung abscess with pus vomiting, phlegm heat, cough and wheezing, hot dysentery, hot stranguria, carbuncle, swelling and ulcer.

Herbs, 30-50 cm high; stem prostrate at lower part, with whorled rootlets at nodes, upright at upper part, glabrous or hairy at nodes, sometimes purplish red. The leaves are thin papery, with glandular dots, especially on the dorsal surface, ovate or broadly ovate, 4-10 cm long, 2.5-6 cm wide, with short acuminate apex, cordate base, both sides are sometimes glabrous except for the veins, and the dorsal surface is often purple-red; there are 4-7 veins, all basal or the innermost pair emanating from the midrib about 5 mm from the base. If there are 7 veins, the outermost pair is very slender or inconspicuous; the petiole is 1-3.5 cm long and glabrous; the stipules are membranous, 1-2.5 cm long, obtuse at the apex, fused to the petiole at the bottom to form a sheath of 8-20 mm, often with ciliates, enlarged at the base, and slightly clasping the stem. The inflorescence is about 2 cm long and 5-6 mm wide; the peduncle is 1.5-3 cm long and glabrous; the bracts are oblong or obovate, 10-15 mm long, 5-7 mm wide, and obtuse at the apex; the stamens are longer than the ovary, and the filaments are three times longer than the anthers. The capsule is 2 to 3 mm long, with a persistent style at the top. It has a fishy smell when rubbed. Flowering period is from April to July.

Above we introduced what Houttuynia cordata is. We know that Houttuynia cordata is a herb. It is particularly useful in folk medicine. Houttuynia cordata has the benefits of diuresis and swelling reduction. Eating Houttuynia cordata can play the role of clearing away heat and detoxification. Houttuynia cordata not only has good medicinal value, but also has high edible value. We can use Houttuynia cordata to make health-preserving therapeutic dishes.