03

2024

-

02

Homology of Medicine and Food --- HERBA HOUTTUYNIAE


Homology of Medicine and Food

--- HERBA HOUTTUYNIAE

 

Raw wetland,

The plant can grow in the valley shade,

The leaves are as fat as buckwheat,

Stem purple red,

Jiangzuo people like raw food,

Guanzhong called Water Crisps,

The leaves have a fishy smell,

So commonly known as: Houttuynia.

-- "Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians"

01 Basic Attribute

 

Houttuyniae is a medicinal herb included in the Chinese pharmacopoeia, derived from the dry overground part of the Houttuynia cordata Thunb(Latin name: Herba Houttuyniae). In summer, they are cut when the stems and leaves are lush and the flowers are blossom, and the impurities are removed and the herb get dried.

The stem is flat cylindrical, twisted, 20 ~ 35cm long, 0.2 ~ 0.3cm in diameter; the surface is brownish yellow, with several longitudinal edges, the segments are obvious, and the lower segments have residual roots; Brittle, easy to break. The leaves are alternate, the leaves are folded, heart-shaped after flattening, 3 ~ 5cm long, 3 ~ 4.5cm wide; Tip acuminate, whole margin; The upper surface is dark yellowish-green to dark brown, the lower surface is grayish-green or grayish-brown; The petiole is slender, and the base is sheathed together with the stipule. Spike terminal, yellowish brown. It has a fishy smell when crushed.

Houttuynia has acrid flavour, character cold and cool, return to the lung meridian. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and cure sores, diuresis and dehumidification, clear heat and stop dysentery, strengthen stomach and relieve food, and treat solid heat, heat poison, dampness evil, lung abscess, sore and swelling poison, hemorrhoids and blood in stool, spleen and stomach heat. Modern pharmacological experiments show that this product has antibacterial, antiviral, improve body immunity, diuretic and other effects.

 

02 Contained Ingredient

Modern research shows that Houttuynia contains a variety of chemical components, mainly containing volatile oils, flavonoids, organic acids, alkaloids and vitamins. Its main active components are volatile oils and flavonoids.

Volatile oil: Houttuynia contains about 0.05% of volatile oil, and the main component is decanoylacetal (i.e., Houttuynia), and the fishiness of houttuynia is caused by this component; Followed by methyl n-nononone and lauraldehyde. These ingredients have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Flavonoids: The contents of total flavonoids in stems and leaves of Houttuynia were 18750μg/g and 59375μg/g, respectively.

Organic acids: Houttuynia contains chlorogenic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, capric acid, decanoic acid, aspartic acid, aristolochic acid, caprylic acid and other organic acids, but also contains aspartate, glutamine, serine, histidine, glycine, leucine, isoleucine and other 16 kinds of amino acids.

Alkaloids: Houttuynia contains houttuynia, cis-N -(4-hydroxystyryl) benzamide, trans-N -(4-hydroxystyryl) benzamide, aporphine alkaloids, etc.

Other: Protein per 100g fresh stem and leaves 2. 29g, fat 0.4g, carbohydrate 5g, carotene 2.59g, etc. Young plants of Houttuynia mainly contain more α-vitamin E and vitamin C, and contain a small amount of vitamin D3, vitamin K1, and niacin. In addition, it still contains sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and trace elements manganese, iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, cesium and so on.

03 Medicinal Effects

 

Houttuynia has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and discharging pus, diuresis and relieving drench, and has been widely used in traditional medicine in China. It is often used with reed root and platycodon platycodon to treat phlegm heat panting and cough. It can be used with wild chrysanthemum, dandelion, honeysuckle, or simply mashed with fresh products for external application. If the skin is itchy, mosquito bites, can also be made of houttuynia alone, coated on the affected area. Houttuynia tuytuynia is often used with plantain seed, white grass root and sea gold sand when the bladder is wet and hot, painful urine, and can also be used alone to treat abnormal leucorrhea.

04 Edibleness

The root of Houttuynia is tender and crisp, slightly spicy and fishy, which is the main edible part. Houttuynia can be eaten raw or cooked. Its stems, leaves, roots can be cold, fried food, can also be pickled or made into tea, wine, soda and other drinks. The cooking method of raw food is to cut houttuynia and salt and dehydrate, and then add ginger, garlic, sesame oil and other cold mix. It is characterized by retaining the original flavor, crisp taste and unique fragrance. There are many cooking methods of cooked food, such as fried eggs of Houttuynia, three fresh soup of Houttuynia, braised Houttuynia with ham.