Houttuynia cordata is the whole herb of the perennial herbaceous plant Ji (ji) in the family Sanbaiaceae. It is mostly distributed in the provinces south of the Yangtze River Basin. Harvested in summer and autumn, washed and used fresh or dried in the sun.
【Prescription name】
Houttuynia cordata , Hudzu.
【Meridians of Sex and Flavor】
Xin, Slightly cold. Return lung meridian.
【Efficacy and indications】
This product is pungent And line, slightly cold and heat clearing, entering the lungs can clear the lungs and dissipate stagnation, not only has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, but also has the effect of eliminating carbuncle and discharging pus. It is the key medicine for treating pulmonary carbuncle. And diuretic effect of treating stranguria.
1. Clear heat and detoxify, eliminate carbuncle and expel pus: used for pulmonary carbuncle vomiting pus and lung-heat cough caused by phlegm-heat stagnation . Lung carbuncle cough and spit pus and blood, this product can be used alone or in combination with platycodon grandiflorum, reed rhizome, coix seed, melon, etc.; to treat cough due to lung heat and thick phlegm, it is often used with Scutellaria baicalensis, Fritillaria japonicus, Anemarrhena anemarrhena, and Morus alba . For toxic heat carbuncle, swollen sores and furuncles, it can be decocted alone, or fresh products can be smashed for external application, or it can be used with wild chrysanthemum, dandelion, and forsythia.
2. Diuretic and stranguria: used for damp-heat stranguria syndrome and diarrhea. For damp-heat stranguria syndrome, it is often used in combination with Plantago Seed, Shiwei, Haijinsha, etc.; for damp-heat diarrhea, it can be used in combination with Coptidis Rhizome and Phellodendron Phellodendri.
【Dosage and Usage】
15～30 grams , decoction. Appropriate amount for external use.
【Notes】
This product contains volatile oil , should not be fried for a long time. Put into decoction, it should be taken later.
【Reference】
“Compendium of Materia Medica” : “Heat dissipating poisonous carbuncle.”
“Materia Medica”: “Treatment of phlegm heat obstructing the lungs, resulting in lung carbuncle vomiting pus and blood Key medicine.”
Drug ingredients: Houttuynia cordata contains volatile oil, and the main components in the oil are decanoyl acetaldehyde (houttuyniatin), Methyl nonanone (has a bad smell), lauric aldehyde, capric aldehyde, capric acid. It still contains potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, and sampine (irritating). Leaves, flower spikes and fruit spikes contain quercetin, isoquercitrin, etc.
Pharmacology: It has inhibitory effect on a variety of pathogenic bacteria and influenza virus; the potassium salt and quercetin contained in it have a diuretic effect; It has the effects of analgesia, hemostasis, inhibition of serous secretion, cough relief, and promotion of tissue regeneration.
(The content is taken from the textbook “Chinese Medicine” edited by Yang Yongliang)