Houttuynia (Yuxingcao)

Pharmaceutical Name : Herba Houttuyniae

Botanical Name : Houttuynia cordate Thunb.

Common Name : Houttuynia

Source of Earliest Record : Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations : The entire plant is gathered in the time between summer and autumn. After gathering, it is cleaned and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Pungent and slightly cold

Meridian : Lung

Functions : To clear heat and release toxins

Indications & Combinations:
1. Lung abscess manifested as cough with bloody and pus-like sputum. Houttuynia (Yuxingcao) is used with Platycodon root (Jiegeng) and Coix seed (Yiyiren).

2. Heat in the lungs manifested as cough with yellow and thick sputum. Houttuynia (Yuxingcao) is used with Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou).

3. Boils and swelling due to toxic heat. Houttuynia (Yuxingcao) is used with Dandelion herb (Pugongying) and Forsythia fruit (Lianqiao).

Dosage: 15-30 g