Introduction to the effects and edible methods of the traditional Chinese medicine Houttuynia cordata

There is a herb in traditional Chinese medicine called Houttuynia cordata. Most people may have heard of this herb, but it may not be clear what its specific effects are and whether it can be used as food. In fact, it is a commonly used medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly used to treat respiratory diseases. We can give the effects and consumption methods of the traditional Chinese medicine Houttuynia cordata for your reference.

1. Function

Modern pharmacological experiments have shown that this product has antibacterial, antiviral, immunity-enhancing and diuretic effects. Clinical reports show that it is widely used to treat pneumonia, hemoptysis, upper respiratory tract infection, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, influenza, lung abscess, cancerous pleural effusion, cold and fever, lung cancer, cervical erosion, suppurative arthritis, habitual constipation, acute bacterial dysentery, acute icteric hepatitis, nephrotic syndrome, herpes simplex keratitis, rhinitis, suppurative otitis media, mumps, papular urticaria, chronic pharyngitis, anorectal disease, prostatitis, lupus erythematosus, hemangioma, and prevent leptospirosis, etc.

Commonly used Chinese patent medicine preparations with Houttuynia cordata as the main ingredient include Houttuynia cordata injection, which has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying and promoting dampness, and is used for lung abscess, phlegm-heat cough, leucorrhea, urinary tract infection, carbuncle, etc. For example, compound houttuynia tablets (consisting of houttuynia, scutellaria, isatis root, and forsythia) have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, and are used for sore throat and tonsillitis caused by exogenous wind-heat.

2. Edible

Houttuynia cordata Houttuynia cordata is also known as side ear root, pig nostril, etc. Cold-mixed side ear root is a traditional folk delicacy. Houttuynia cordata has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, eliminating carbuncle and draining pus, and promoting diuresis and relieving stranguria. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is often used together with reed root, platycodon, and trichosanthes to treat lung abscess with pus vomiting (equivalent to lung abscess in modern medicine), phlegm-heat, wheezing and cough. When used for heat and toxic sores, it can be used together with wild chrysanthemum, dandelion, honeysuckle, etc., or it can be used alone with fresh products and mashed for external application. If the skin is itchy, there are mosquito bites, or boils are red, swollen, itchy and painful, you can also use this product alone to make an ointment and apply it to the affected area (such as Pi Yan Ning mentioned in the "Chinese Materia Medica Encyclopedia"). Houttuynia cordata is used for bladder damp-heat, dribbling and painful urination, and is often used together with Plantago seed, Imperata root, and Lycopodiella cernua. Houttuynia cordata can also be used alone, not only to treat hot stranguria, but also to treat leucorrhea and leucorrhea. When used for damp-heat in the large intestine, diarrhea and dysentery, it is often used with Coptis chinensis, Phellodendron chinense, Pulsatilla scabra, etc. It can also be used with Hawthorn charcoal to treat heat dysentery (equivalent to bacterial dysentery in modern medicine).

The above is an introduction to the effects and edible methods of the traditional Chinese medicine Houttuynia cordata. In fact, Chinese medicine is not that mysterious. For example, many things we see in daily life, such as orange peel, hawthorn, and wolfberry, are Chinese medicine. Deepening our understanding of Chinese medicine can make our lives more convenient. Sometimes if we have some minor problems, we don’t have to go to the hospital. We can solve them by taking some Chinese medicine.