Houttuynia cordata. 鱼 腥 草 Yú xīng cǎo- "Fish smelling herb"   Tsi, Fish mint   Family: Saururaceae     
PART USED: Whole plant- Harvested Summer through Autumn.
Nature: Cool  FLAVOR: Pungent, acrid  CHANNEL: Lung, Large Intestine  TOXICITY: Slightly toxic.[1]
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Clearing Internal Heat- Neutralizing Toxins
1. Clear Heat, counteract toxic effects.[4] Clears fevers and detoxifies.[1] Clears Damp Heat.
2. Reduces swelling from carbuncles.[3] Relieves toxicity and expels pus.[4]
3. Drains Damp Heat and promotes urination.[4] Diuretic and reduces swelling.[1,3] Benefit Dampness.
4. Used as an emperor herb in the treatment of Lung inflammation; Lung abscesses, pneumonia and recently, cancer.
ACTIONS
INDICATIONS- Common herb for Lung abcesses[3]
1. Upper respiratory tract infections,[1] Lung abscess.[1,3,4] Pulmonary abscess, cough with hot sputum. Pneumonia.[3] Coughing with yellow sticky puss, phlegm.[3] Lung Heat cough with expectoration of thick, yellow-green sputum.[4]
2. Inflammatory conditions and other infections of the urinary tract.[1]
3. Damp Heat dysentery,[3] or Damp Heat in the lower Burner with painful urinary dysfunction.[4]
4. Toxic sores: internally and topically.[4] Leukorrhea, carbuncles.
5. Poisonous snakebites.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Cold from deficiency, and Yin furuncles.[4]
COMBINATIONS
- Lung abscess with fever and cough and the production of fetid, purulent sputum. Use with Platycodon grandiflorus- Jie geng and Phragmites communis- Lu gen.[4]
- Abscesses and boils due to excess Heat, with Chrysanthemum morifolium- Ju hua, Lonicera japonica- Jin yin hua, Taraxacum mongolicum- Pu gong ying.[4]
- Damp Heat dysuria, with Plantago asiatica- Che qian zi and Imperatacylindrica- Bai mao gen.[4]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction  Dry plant above ground. Do not boil for more than 15 min.[3] 15-30 g.[1,2,3]
Whole plant.[1] Fresh herb, 60-120 g, also crushed fresh for external application.[1]

ORIGIN: Grown throughout the Yangtse river valley and South China
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
Recently used with good success in treating pneumonia, bronchitis, colitis, and urinary tract infections.[1]
References
[1] Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica- Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble- Eastland Press 1986 Seattle Washington ISBN 0-939616-15-7

Anti-inflammatory functions of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and its compounds: A perspective on its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis
Jun Li and Futao Zhao
Abstract
The aim of this review was to take a look at the anti-inflammatory functions of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HCT) that have been illustrated in the literature and to explore new fields in which HCT could be used in the future. The use of HCT has been described in broad inflammatory domains, where it has exhibited a variety of activities, including antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic and immunostimulant activity, with high efficiency, mild features and definite therapeutic effects. The numerous anti-inflammatory functions of HCT have demonstrated that HCT has wide application prospects. New uses of HCT and the full extent of its utilization await further investigation. The basic pathological change of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is synovial proliferation which leads to joint destruction in the long-term. There are types of drugs that have been used clinically for patients with RA, however, due to their side-effects or high prices their broad usage is limited. A safe and low-cost drug is urgently required to be developed for the clinical usage of patients with RA. Thus, HCT has the potential to be a good candidate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Exp Ther Med. 2015 Jul; 10(1): 3–6.
Published online 2015 Apr 30. doi: 10.3892/etm.2015.2467
PMCID: PMC4487049 PMID: 26170903 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic potentials of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. against inflammation and oxidative stress: A review.
Shingnaisui K, Dey T, Manna P, Kalita J.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Family: Saururaceae) is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows in moist and shady places. The plant is well known among the people of diverse cultures across Japan, Korea, China and North-East India for its medicinal properties. Traditionally the plant is used for its various beneficial properties against inflammation, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, muscular sprain, stomach ulcer etc. Oxidative stress and inflammation were found to be linked with most of the diseases in recent times. Many ancient texts from Chinese Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha, and Japanese Traditional medicine have documented the efficacy of H. cordata against oxidative stress and inflammation.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
This review aims to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on the efficacy of H. cordata extracts as well as its bioactive compounds both in vitro and in vivo, against oxidative stress and inflammation MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant information on H. cordata against oxidative stress and inflammation were collected from the established scientific databases such as NCBI, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Springer. Additionally, a few books and magazines were also consulted to get the important information.
RESULTS:
Herbal medicines or plant products were traditionally being used for treating the oxidative stress and inflammation related diseases in diverse communities across the world. Scientifically, H. cordata has shown to target several signaling pathways and found to effectively reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation. Phyto-constituents such as afzelin, hyperoside and quercitrin have shown to reduce inflammation both in vitro and in vivo models. These molecules were also shown to have strong antioxidant properties both in vivo and in vitro models.
CONCLUSIONS:
H. cordata extracts and its bioactive molecules were shown to have both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. As both in vitro and in vivo studies were shown that H. cordata did not have any toxicity on the various model systems used, future clinical studies will hopefully make an impact on the future direction of treating inflammation-related diseases.
PMID: 29605674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.038 J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jun 28;220:35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.038. Epub 2018 Mar 30.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Houttuynia cordata Thunb extract inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human primary colorectal cancer cells.
Lai KC, Chiu YJ, Tang YJ, Lin KL, Chiang JH, Jiang YL, Jen HF, Kuo YH, Agamaya S, Chung JG, Yang JS.
Abstract
It is reported that Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HCT), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has many biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial and antileukemic activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human primary colorectal cancer cells are not clear. In this study, whether HCT induced cytotoxicity in primary colorectal cancer cells obtained from three patients was investigated. The results indicated that HCT inhibited growth of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment with HCT (250 μg/ml) for 24 h, cells exhibited chromatin condensation (an apoptotic characteristic). HCT increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) in examined cells. Mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway was shown to be involved as determined by increase in the levels of cytochrome c, Apaf-1, and caspase-3 and -9. The decrease in the level of ΔΨ(m) was associated with an increase in the BAX/BCL-2 ratio which led to activation of caspase-9 and -3. Based on our results, HCT induced apoptotic cell death in human primary colorectal cancer cells through a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway.
PMID: 20944136 Anticancer Res. 2010 Sep;30(9):3549-56. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory effects of a Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract
Sunhee Shin,, Seong Soo Joo, Jeong Hee Jeon, Dongsun Park, Min-Jung Jang, Tae-Ook Kim, Hyun-Kyu Kim, Bang Yeon Hwang, Ki-Yon Kim, Yun-Bae Kimcorresponding author
Abstract
Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in a carrageenan-air pouch model. HSE (200 mg/kg, oral) suppressed exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-α and NO, while indomethacin decreased TNF-α and PGE2. The suppressive activity of HSE on NO and PGE2 production was confirmed in RAW 264.7. These results demonstrate that HSE exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-α-NO and cyclooxygenase II-PGE2 pathways.
J Vet Sci. 2010 Sep; 11(3): 273–275.
Published online 2010 Aug 18. doi: 10.4142/jvs.2010.11.3.273
PMCID: PMC2924491 PMID: 20706037 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory effect of Houttuynia cordata injection.
Lu HM, Liang YZ, Yi LZ, Wu XJ.
Abstract
Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae) injection (HCI) is a traditional Chinese medicine used in China. It was chosen as one of eight types of traditional Chinese medicine that play a unique role in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) owing to the effect of curbing inflammation. In order to validate this plausible anti-inflammatory property, the chemical composition of HCI has been analysed by GC/MS, 22 components were identified, and the inflammation induced by carrageenan in the rat pleurisy model and by xylene in the mice ear edema model was adopted to study the anti-inflammatory activity of HCI. Injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity elicited an acute inflammatory response characterized by protein rich fluid accumulation and leukocyte infiltration in the pleural cavity. The peak inflammatory response was obtained at 24 h when the fluid volume, protein concentration, C-reactive protein and cell infiltration were maximums. The results showed that these parameters were attenuated by HCI at any dose and touched bottom at dose of 0.54 ml/100 g, although less strong than dexamethasone. This drug was also effective in inhibiting xylene induced ear edema, and the percentage of inhibition came to 50% at dose of 80 microl/20 g. The results clearly indicate that HCI have anti-inflammatory activity.
PMID: 16213118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.09.012 J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Mar 8;104(1-2):245-9. Epub 2005 Oct 5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Houttuynia cordata Thunb fraction induces human leukemic Molt-4 cell apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.
Prommaban A, Kodchakorn K, Kongtawelert P, Banjerdpongchai R.
Abstract
Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a native herb found in Southeast Asia which features various pharmacological activities against allergy, inflammation, viral and bacterial infection, and cancer. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic effect of 6 fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of alcoholic HCT extract on human leukemic Molt-4 cells and demonstrate mechanisms of cell death. Six HCT fractions were cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic Molt-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay, fraction 4 exerting the greatest effects. Treatment with IC50 of HCT fraction 4 significantly induced Molt-4 apoptosis detected by annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide for externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of cell membrane. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced in HCT fraction 4-treated Molt-4 cells. Moreover, decreased expression of Bcl-xl and increased levels of Smac/Diablo, Bax and GRP78 proteins were noted on immunoblotting. In conclusion, HCT fraction 4 induces Molt-4 apoptosis cell through an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.
PMID: 22901157 Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2012;13(5):1977-81. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventive Effects of Houttuynia cordata Extract for Oral Infectious Diseases.
Sekita Y , Murakami K , Yumoto H , Amoh T , Fujiwara N , Ogata S , Matsuo T , Miyake Y , Kashiwada Y
Abstract
Houttuynia cordata (HC) (Saururaceae) has been used internally and externally as a traditional medicine and as an herbal tea for healthcare in Japan. Our recent survey showed that HC poultice (HCP) prepared from smothering fresh leaves of HC had been frequently used for the treatment of purulent skin diseases with high effectiveness. Our experimental study also demonstrated that ethanol extract of HCP (eHCP) has antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory effects against S. aureus which caused purulent skin diseases. In this study, we focused on novel effects of HCP against oral infectious diseases, such as periodontal disease and dental caries. We determined the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of water solution of HCP ethanol extract (wHCP) against important oral pathogens and investigated its cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects on human oral epithelial cells. wHCP had moderate antimicrobial effects against some oral microorganisms and profound antibiofilm effects against Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. In addition, wHCP had no cytotoxic effects and could inhibit interleukin-8 and CCL20 productions by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human oral keratinocytes. Our findings suggested that wHCP may be clinically useful for preventing oral infectious diseases as a mouthwash for oral care.
BioMed research international 2016: 2016 pg 2581876
PubMed ID 27413739 unboundmedicine.com