Yu Xing Cao (鱼腥草) is heartleaf houttuynia, recorded as Herba Houttuyniae. It is acrid in flavour and cool in temperature, entering the Lung and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity. Its Chinese name reads as fish-smell herb.

Pinyin

yu xing cao

Chinese

鱼腥草

Latin Name

Herba Houttuyniae·Herba Houttyuniae

English Name

heartleaf houttuynia·Houttyunia

Japanese

gyoseiso

Korean

eoseongcho

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and abscesses and expels pus, acting mainly on the Lungs

Lung abscess, or cough from Lung Heat bringing up thick yellow or green sputum
Pneumonia and acute or chronic bronchitis
Sores, boils and carbuncles from Fire toxin (Chuang Yong), taken internally or applied topically

Drains Damp-Heat and promotes urination

Painful urinary dysfunction from Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao
Diarrhea or dysentery from Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
Enteritis and colitis-type conditions

Combinations

jie geng + lu gen

Lung abscess with cough, fever and expectoration of foul-smelling, purulent sputum

zhi mu + sang bai pi

Lung Heat cough

ju hua + jin yin hua + pu gong ying

Boils and abscesses from Excess Heat (frequently applied topically)

che qian zi + bai mao gen

Painful urinary dysfunction from Damp-Heat

hai jin sha + shi wei

Rough, painful urination.

jie geng

Lung abscess. Problems of the upper respiratory tract

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 10-60g do not decoct longer than 5 minutes; Tincture: 2-4ml

10-60 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

caution Injectable preparations call for great caution; the serious adverse reactions reported for this plant belong to a hospital injection, not the decocted herb or the food

caution Cold from deficiency, such as a weak, cold digestion or a Cold-type cough

contraindication Yin-type furuncles and sores: pale, flat, chronic lesions without inflammation, which need warming and tonifying rather than cooling

yu xing cao

About yu xing cao

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and abscesses and expels pus, acting mainly on the Lungs

Drains Damp-Heat and promotes urination

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions