Houttuynia Grassland name Houttuynia, Zheergen. It is named for its strong fishy smell in its fresh leaves. If it is freshly used in soup, this special fishy smell is unacceptable, but after drying in the shade, the fishy smell disappears and has a slight fragrance. , When adding water to make soup, it can also emit a cinnamon-like aroma. The color and taste of the soup are like light black tea juice, fragrant and slightly astringent.
Houttuynia cordata is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Hubei. Its stem is flat cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical, twisted and slender, about 10-30 cm long and 2-4 mm thick. The surface is light reddish brown to yellowish brown, with longitudinal wrinkles or fine grooves, the nodes are clearly visible, and there are traces of fibrous roots on the nodes near the lower part.
Houttuynia cordata can clear away heat and detoxify, diuretic and reduce swelling. It has a certain effect on dysentery, eczema, lung abscess, edema, and carbuncle. It is also an important medicine for treating lung carbuncle in traditional Chinese medicine.
Fresh Houttuynia cordata is mostly seen in general meat and vegetable markets, and it is better to have large leaves and strong fishy smell. Most Chinese medicine stores sell shade-dried Houttuynia cordata, which is light reddish brown, with intact stems and leaves, and no impurities such as soil.
What are the functions and effects of Houttuynia cordata? Houttuynia cordata has a slightly pungent taste and is cold in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and treating sores, diuresis and dampness, strengthening the stomach and eliminating food. It is generally used to treat diseases such as lung abscess, swollen toxin, spleen and stomach heat accumulation.
1. Antibacterial
Expert studies have shown that the smell of Houttuynia cordata comes from the component in the volatile oil of Houttuynia cordata -- Houttuynia cordata. Houttuyniatin has antibacterial effect, and has significant inhibitory effect on influenza bacillus, catarrhal coccus, staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus and so on.
2. Diuretic
Houttuynia cordata contains quercetin. Quercitrin has diuretic and antiviral effects.
3. Anti-inflammatory
It has been clinically proven that Houttuynia cordata has a significant curative effect on diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic tracheitis, chronic cervicitis, and whooping cough. It can also be used to treat acute conjunctivitis and urinary tract infection.
4. Enhance immunity
In addition to antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, Houttuynia cordata also has the effect of improving human immunity. Taking Houttuynia cordata increases the phagocytosis of white blood cells, stops bleeding, relieves pain, relieves cough, promotes tissue regeneration, dilates capillaries, and increases blood flow.