Yú Xīng Cǎo (鱼腥草), known in English as Houttuynia herb (Houttuynia cordata), is a cool, acrid Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung channel. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Yú Xīng Cǎo (Yu Xing Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 鱼腥草 |
| English | Houttuynia herb |
| Botanical name | Houttuynia cordata |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Lung |
| Dosage | 15–25g (do not decoct long) |
| Cautions | Deficiency Cold; no Heat |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Reduces abscesses, expels pus
- Promotes urination, relieves painful urinary dysfunction
Indications
- Lung abscess with coughing of pus
- Phlegm-Heat cough and wheezing
- Heat dysentery
- Heat painful urinary dysfunction
- Carbuncles and sores
How to remember Yú Xīng Cǎo
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool: like most Clear heat herbs
- Lung channel: from its use for “Lung abscess with coughing of pus”
- Learn by heart
- Acrid: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Yú Xīng Cǎo?
Yú Xīng Cǎo is cool and acrid.
Which channels does Yú Xīng Cǎo enter?
Yú Xīng Cǎo enters the Lung channel.
What are the actions of Yú Xīng Cǎo?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Reduces abscesses, expels pus; Promotes urination, relieves painful urinary dysfunction.
What is Yú Xīng Cǎo used for?
Lung abscess with coughing of pus; Phlegm-Heat cough and wheezing; Heat dysentery; Heat painful urinary dysfunction; carbuncles and sores.
Practise Yú Xīng Cǎo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.