Introduction of Yu Xing Cao: Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb
✵The article records Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source—a single plant species: Houttuynia cordata Thunb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Houttuyniae (Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb)
Pinyin Name: Yú Xīnɡ Cǎo
English Name: Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb
Latin Name:Herba Houttuyniae Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold, pungent
Brief Introduction:Herba Houttuyniae—the dried aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb.—is used to clear heat, counteract toxins, expel pus, and promote diuresis. It is indicated for lung abscess with purulent sputum, cough due to lung-heat, boils and sores, damp-heat stranguria, and acute dysentery. Common names include Yú Xīng Cǎo, Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb, and Houttuynia Herb.
Botanical Source: Classical and official Chinese herbal works define Herba Houttuyniae (Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb) as the dried aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. It is a plant of the genus Houttuynia Thunb., family Saururaceae (lizard’s-tail family), order Piperales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Houttuynia cordata Thunb.
Botanical Description:Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is commonly known as Jí Cài. A perennial herb with a distinctive fishy odor, growing up to 60 cm tall. The lower stem is prostrate; rootlets arise in whorls at the nodes; the upper stem is erect, glabrous or pilose at the nodes. Leaves are alternate, thin and papery (chartaceous), bearing glandular dots; petioles are 1–4 cm long; stipules are membranous, linear-lanceolate, ~2.5 cm long, fused basally with the petiole to form a leaf sheath; base is enlarged and slightly amplexicaul (stem-clasping). Leaf blades are ovate or broadly ovate, 4–10 cm long and 3–6 cm wide; apex is short-acuminate; base is cordate; margin is entire; upper surface is green; lower surface is often purplish-red; veins are pilose on both surfaces.
Spikes are terminal, ~2 cm long and ~5 mm wide, opposite the leaves; involucral bracts 4, oblong or obovate, 1–1.5 cm long and ~0.6 cm wide, white. Flowers are small and densely packed, achlamydeous (lacking perianth); stamens 3, filaments are ~3× longer than anthers, fused basally with the ovary; pistil 1, composed of 3 carpels; ovary is superior; styles 3, free.
Fruit is a capsule, ovoid, 2–3 mm long, dehiscent at the apex, with a persistent style. Seeds are numerous, ovoid. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting from October to November.
Ecological Environment:Houttuynia cordata grows in gullies, damp habitats, along streams, and moist areas in open forests.
Growth Characteristics:Houttuynia cordata Thunb. grows wild in wet lowlands or near water. It prefers warm, humid conditions and is drought-intolerant. It is cold-tolerant (survives winter at −15 °C / 5 °F) but shade-preferring and sensitive to strong light. Optimal soils are fertile sandy loam or humus-rich loam; clayey or alkaline soils are unsuitable for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: Fresh Herba Houttuyniae: Stem is flattened-cylindrical, brittle, 20–45 cm long and 0.25–0.45 cm in diameter; surface is yellowish-brown; nodes are prominent; lower nodes bear residual fibrous roots. Leaves are alternate, often shriveled; when flattened, cordate, 3–5 cm long and 3–4.5 cm wide; upper surface is dull green (dark green) or yellowish-green, densely dotted with glandular spots; lower surface is olive-brown or taupe-brown; petioles are slender and long; base fused with stipules (peraphylla) to form a sheath. Inflorescence is terminal. Characteristic fishy odor when crushed; taste is slightly astringent.
Dry Herba Houttuyniae: The stem is flattened-cylindrical and twisted; surface is yellowish-brown, with longitudinal striations and prominent nodes; fibrous roots persist at lower nodes. Texture is brittle and easily fractured. Leaves are alternate, curled and shriveled; when flattened, cordate, 3–5 cm long and 3–4.5 cm wide; upper surface is dark yellowish-green to dark brown; lower surface is grayish-green or grayish-brown. Spikes are yellowish-brown.
Medicinal efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies; resolves carbuncles and expels pus; promotes diuresis and alleviates stranguria; reduces swelling. Indicated for lung abscess with purulent expectoration (pyoptysis), pneumonia, phlegm-heat cough with asthma, damp-heat stranguria, malaria, boils and sores, hemorrhoids, edema, gonorrhea, leukorrhea, rectocele, eczema, tinea capitis, scabies, etc.
Administration of Herba Houttuyniae (Yú Xīnɡ Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Houttuyniae (Yú Xīnɡ Cǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 15–25 grams; avoid prolonged decoction. Fresh herb: double the dose—administered as a water decoction or freshly extracted juice. External use: appropriate quantity, mashed and applied topically, or used as a fumigation wash (decoction). (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qián (approximately 9–15 grams); fresh herb, 1–2 liáng (approximately 30–60 grams), or freshly extracted juice. External use: fumigation wash (decoction) or topical application of mashed herb. (3) Internally: water decoction, 15–25 grams; avoid prolonged decoction; fresh herb may be used at double dose, or juice extracted and taken. External use: appropriate quantity, mashed and applied topically, or fumigation wash (decoction).
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1.Introduction of Yu Xing Cao: Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb.
✵The article records Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source—a single plant species: Houttuynia cordata Thunb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Yú Xīnɡ Cǎo
Botanical Source: Classical and official Chinese herbal works define Herba Houttuyniae (Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb) as the dried aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. It is a plant of the genus Houttuynia Thunb., family Saururaceae (lizard’s-tail family), order Piperales. This commonly used species is described below:
Botanical Description: Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is commonly known as Jí Cài. A perennial herb with a distinctive fishy odor, growing up to 60 cm tall. The lower stem is prostrate; rootlets arise in whorls at the nodes; the upper stem is erect, glabrous or pilose at the nodes. Leaves are alternate, thin and papery (chartaceous), bearing glandular dots; petioles are 1–4 cm long; stipules are membranous, linear-lanceolate, ~2.5 cm long, fused basally with the petiole to form a leaf sheath; base is enlarged and slightly amplexicaul (stem-clasping). Leaf blades are ovate or broadly ovate, 4–10 cm long and 3–6 cm wide; apex is short-acuminate; base is cordate; margin is entire; upper surface is green; lower surface is often purplish-red; veins are pilose on both surfaces.
Ecological Environment: Houttuynia cordata grows in gullies, damp habitats, along streams, and moist areas in open forests.
Characteristics of the Herb: Fresh Herba Houttuyniae: Stem is flattened-cylindrical, brittle, 20–45 cm long and 0.25–0.45 cm in diameter; surface is yellowish-brown; nodes are prominent; lower nodes bear residual fibrous roots. Leaves are alternate, often shriveled; when flattened, cordate, 3–5 cm long and 3–4.5 cm wide; upper surface is dull green (dark green) or yellowish-green, densely dotted with glandular spots; lower surface is olive-brown or taupe-brown; petioles are slender and long; base fused with stipules (peraphylla) to form a sheath. Inflorescence is terminal. Characteristic fishy odor when crushed; taste is slightly astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Leptospira spp.; (2) Prevents viral infection in mice; (3) Exerts anti-inflammatory effects; (4) Exhibits diuretic activity; (5) Possesses antitussive and antiasthmatic effects.
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