Medicinal value of wild houttuynia

Houttuynia cordata root (English name HERBA

HOUTTUYNIAE) is a medicinal herb included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The medicinal herb comes from the dried above-ground part of the Houttuynia cordata Thunb. of the Saururaceae family. Harvest in summer when the leaves and stems are lush and there are many flower spikes, remove the residue and dry them.

Characteristics of the herb: The stem is oblate and cylindrical, twisted, 20 to 35 cm long, and 0.2 to 0.3 cm in diameter; the surface is yellow-brown, with many longitudinal ridges, distinct nodes, and residual roots on the lower nodes; it is brittle and easily broken. The leaves are symbiotic, folded and wrinkled, heart-shaped when unfolded, 3-5 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide; the apex is gradually pointed, the margin is entire; the upper surface is dark light green to dark dark brown, the lower surface is light green or gray-brown; the leaf stems are long and slender, and the tip is fused with the bracts to form a sheath shape. The inflorescence is terminal and yellow-brown. It has a fishy smell when crushed.

Houttuynia root is pungent in flavor, cold in nature, and enters the lung meridian. It can clear away heat and reduce fire, reduce swelling and treat sores, facilitate urination and remove dampness, clear away heat and detoxify to stop dysentery, strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach. It is used to treat lung abscesses, sores, hemorrhoids, bloody stools, and gastrointestinal heat caused by real heat, heat toxins, dampness, and rapid heat. Modern pharmacology experiments show that this product has the effects of antibacterial, antiviral treatment, enhancing the body's immune ability, and promoting urination.

Main Function

It clears away heat and reduces fire, facilitates urination and reduces swelling. Treat pneumonia, lung abscess, dysentery, dengue fever, edema, gonorrhea, secretions, carbuncle, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, eczema, baldness, and scabies.

Usage method Dosage

Oral administration: decoct in water, 3-5 qian (1-2 liang for fresh); or mash into juice. External application: decoct in water for fumigation or mash for application.

Medication precautions

It is forbidden to take in case of deficiency-cold syndrome and negative external ulcer.

"Bie Lu": Eating too much will make people breathless.

Meng Shen: Eating it for a long time will make the person weak, damage qi and blood, and deplete essence.