Use with caution. Review interactions and contraindications below.
TCM Properties
- Taste
- acrid
- Temperature
- slightly cold
- Channels
- Lung, Large Intestine, Bladder
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves toxicity (especially Lung heat-toxicity)
- Drains Lung abscess and expels pus
- Clears Damp-Heat and promotes urination
- Reduces swelling and relieves inflammatory pain
Secondary Actions
- Broad-spectrum antibacterial for respiratory and urinary tract infections
- Antiviral support; used in SARS prevention protocols in China
Classic Formulas
- Wei Jing Tang (苇茎汤) — classic formula for Lung abscess; Yu Xing Cao added in modern modifications to strengthen heat-clearing and pus-expelling action
- Used as principal herb in numerous modern patent formulas for pneumonia, bronchitis, and upper respiratory infections
Classical References
- Ben Cao Jing Shu (Qing dynasty): 'Yu Xing Cao clears the Lung heat, dissipates toxicity, and discharges pus — the essential herb for heat abscess of the Lung'
- Named for its distinctive fishy odour (鱼腥 = fishy smell); the volatile compound houttuynin (decanoylacetaldehyde) is responsible and degrades on prolonged cooking — add late in decoction or use fresh
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Houttuynin / decanoylacetaldehyde (volatile antibacterial; degrades on heating)
- Quercetin
- Rutin
- Hyperin (quercetin-3-galactoside)
- Quercitrin
- Kaempferol
- Aristolactams A and B (present at low levels; structurally distinct from nephrotoxic aristolochic acids)
Studied Effects
- Antiviral: H. cordata extract and quercetin inhibit murine coronavirus and dengue virus; quercetin, baicalin, and luteolin identified as SARS-CoV-2 protein inhibitors with experimental validation showing inhibition of LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-1β and pseudovirus cell invasion (PMID 34512097)
- Antibacterial: sodium houttuyfonate shows synergistic activity against MRSA combined with EDTA-Na2, significantly improving survival in murine infection model; nutraceutical review confirms broad antiviral spectrum (PMID 36059903)
- Anti-inflammatory: water and ethanolic extracts reduce NO and TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated macrophages by up to 30% via NF-κB inhibition
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Cold-Damp Lung patterns (cough with clear-white phlegm, no fever)
- Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold
Cautions
- Standard dose 15–30g fresh herb or 15–25g dried in decoction; add in final 5 minutes to preserve volatile houttuynin
- Aristolactams A and B are present at low levels; aristolochic acids (the nephrotoxic compounds) are absent or below detection — avoid prolonged unsupervised use as precaution
- Injectable preparations (sodium houttuyfonate injection) were suspended nationally in China in 2006 following serious allergic reactions; injectable form is NOT equivalent to oral/decoction safety profile
- Oral and topical use considered safe at standard doses based on centuries of use
Drug Interactions
- Anticoagulants / antiplatelet drugs: possible additive blood-thinning effect due to quercetin content; monitor for increased bleeding risk
- Immunosuppressants: potential additive immunomodulatory effect; caution in transplant patients or those on immunosuppressive therapy