This type of vegetable, which is good for the lungs, grows wild in many places in Vietnam.
Houttuynia cordata is used to treat viral pneumonia and many other health problems.
Plants possess a wide variety of chemical components and bioactive compounds, effectively preventing and treating common clinical diseases. In some Asian countries, people use natural plants for medicinal purposes, accounting for 70-95% of basic treatments. One such plant with numerous beneficial properties is...Houttuynia cordata.
Houttuynia cordata grows wild in Vietnam in moist soil, along streams and ditches. In recent years, it has been widely cultivated by people for its leaves, which are used as a raw vegetable, added to hot pot dishes, and juiced for their diuretic and cooling properties.
In many Asian countries such as China, Korea, India, and Japan, Houttuynia cordata is used both as food and as medicine.
This vegetable contains many different chemical components, most notably alkaloids. However, the components with pharmacological effects are essential oils and flavonoids. The fishy smell of Houttuynia cordata is due to the presence of decanoyl acetaldehyde, which has antibacterial properties.
Used in traditional medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, Houttuynia cordata is used to treat viral pneumonia. The herb has a significant inhibitory effect on viral infection and replication. Its anti-inflammatory properties may be attributed to its flavonoid, sodium houttuyfonate, and polysaccharide components.
Additionally, Houttuynia cordata is used topically to treat allergies, rashes, hives, indigestion, and as a poultice for injured areas to stimulate bone growth. In clinical treatment, Houttuynia cordata is often combined with other medications to treat dysentery, colds, fever, and mumps.
In Nepal, Houttuynia cordata is used in several medicinal preparations for women. The whole plant is considered a cooling, detoxifying, and digestive remedy, as well as a menstrual regulator. The leaves are used to treat dysentery, gonorrhea, skin diseases, and eye diseases.
Other effects
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, recent studies have found that polysaccharides and sodium houttuyfonate in Houttuynia cordata protect the gut. Several other components enhance the gut's mechanical and immune barriers.
Recently, natural plant products have shown effective effects in preventing and treating liver diseases. Ethyl acetate extract of Houttuynia cordata has hepatoprotective effects, showing significant antioxidant activity in mice with liver damage.
The antioxidant components of Houttuynia cordata also have an effect on the repair of heart cells. In diabetic mice, continuous administration of a 2% Houttuynia cordata aqueous extract for 8 weeks was able to regulate oxygen levels and inhibit the adverse effects of diabetes on the heart.
