Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao: The TCM Herb for Clearing Heat and Infections

Hongji Medical
Jun 11
4 min read

Yu Xing Cao, also known as Houttuynia cordata or Fish Mint, is a widely used herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) named for its distinctive fishy smell. It is valued for its ability to clear heat, detoxify, and treat infections, particularly in the lungs and urinary tract. Its use has grown in modern times due to increasing research into its therapeutic properties.

Yu Xing Cao was first recorded in the Mingyi Bielu (Supplement to Famous Physicians’ Materia Medica) as a lower-grade herb for treating lung abscesses with pus. The Tang Bencao noted its use for painful, swollen hemorrhoids, while Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica emphasized its role in detoxifying and treating sores and lung abscesses. The Diannan Bencao and Bencao Zhengyi further highlighted its effectiveness for clearing lung heat and resolving toxic sores, establishing its importance in TCM.

Properties of Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao

Nature and Channels

Taste: Pungent
Nature: Cold
Channel: Lung

Main Benefits

Clears heat and detoxifies
Promotes urination and reduces swelling
Resolves abscesses and drains pus
Boosts immunity

Dosage

Internal use: 15–30 grams dried or up to 60 grams fresh, boiled in decoctions.
External use: Applied as a poultice, as needed.

Growing Regions

Found south of the Yangtze River in China, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou.

Identification

Form: Dried whole herb, often cut into segments.
Stem: Flattened cylindrical, 20–35 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm in diameter, yellowish-green or yellowish-brown with longitudinal ridges.
Leaves: Alternate, often wrinkled, heart-shaped when flattened, 3–5 cm long, 3–4.5 cm wide, with smooth edges.
Flowers: Spike-like, brownish-yellow at the top.
Scent and Taste: Distinct fishy odor, slightly astringent taste.

Clinical Uses of Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao

Yu Xing Cao is used in TCM to treat various conditions:

Lung Heat Cough: Relieves cough with thick, yellow phlegm, sore throat, and chest discomfort.
Lung Abscess: Eases cough, chest pain, and coughing up pus or blood.
Urinary Tract Infections: Addresses frequent, painful, or burning urination with yellow urine.
Toxic Sores: Treats red, swollen, and pus-filled skin conditions.
Damp-Heat Jaundice: Reduces yellowing of skin or eyes, abdominal fullness, and nausea.
Wind-Heat Colds: Alleviates fever, headache, and sore throat from external heat.

Specific Benefits

Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Yu Xing Cao’s cold nature inhibits bacteria and viruses, treating lung infections and sores.
Promoting Urination and Reducing Swelling: It clears damp-heat, aiding urinary infections and edema.
Resolving Abscesses: It helps drain pus, supporting recovery from lung abscesses.
Boosting Immunity: Its components enhance the body’s immune response.

Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao in TCM Formulas

Yu Xing Cao is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Here are some examples:

Yu Xing Cao Injection: Used alone or with antibiotics for respiratory or urinary infections.
Qing Fei Yin (Clear Lung Decoction): Combines Yu Xing Cao with Platycodon, Licorice, and Phragmites to clear lung heat and relieve cough with thick phlegm.
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (Five-Ingredient Detoxification Decoction): Includes Yu Xing Cao with Honeysuckle, Wild Chrysanthemum, Dandelion, and Viola to clear heat and resolve toxic sores.

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Comparison with Similar Herbs

Yu Xing Cao shares effects with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:

Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying): Clears heat and detoxifies but is better for breast abscesses and sores, with weaker diuretic effects.
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua): Clears heat and detoxifies but focuses on throat infections and sores, with less lung-clearing action.
Platycodon (Jie Geng): Opens the lungs and drains pus but is better for cough with phlegm, with weaker detoxification properties.

Yu Xing Cao excels in its combined ability to clear heat, promote urination, and resolve abscesses, especially for lung and urinary infections.

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Modern Applications and Research

Modern research highlights Yu Xing Cao’s benefits:

Antibacterial Effects: Its extracts inhibit bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Antiviral Effects: It shows activity against viruses like influenza and SARS.
Anti-Inflammatory: It reduces inflammation by suppressing mediators.
Diuretic Effects: It promotes water excretion, aiding edema.
Immune Support: It enhances immune function.

Clinically, Yu Xing Cao is used for pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and upper respiratory infections. It’s also incorporated into health foods and cosmetics.

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How to Use Yu Xing Cao Safely

Precautions

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Cold: Use cautiously, as its cold nature may harm digestion.
Long-Term Use: Avoid prolonged high doses to prevent digestive issues.
Fresh Herb: Fresh Yu Xing Cao is more potent but must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid gastrointestinal upset.

Usage Tips

Yu Xing Cao’s fishy taste can be masked by combining it with other herbs or using it in cooked dishes. Consult a TCM practitioner for proper dosage and suitability.

Conclusion

Yu Xing Cao is a versatile TCM herb known for clearing heat, detoxifying, and treating infections in the lungs and urinary tract. It effectively manages cough, abscesses, urinary issues, and sores, with modern research supporting its antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting effects. Despite its strong odor, its benefits make it valuable, especially when prepared thoughtfully. To ensure safe and effective use, consult a TCM practitioner for guidance on dosage and application.

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Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin: A TCM Formula for Clearing Heat Toxins and Treating Sores and Abscesses

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中醫知識

Chinese Medicine - Qi

Blood and semen

Heart and lungs

Spleen and Liver

Kidney

Gallbladder, stomach, intestines, bladder

Interrelationships among the five internal organs

Other questions

Qi is the constantly moving subtle substance that constitutes the human body and maintains its vital activities.

There are three main sources of Qi in the human body: the innate essence inherited from parents, the essence of water and grain in food, and the pure Qi existing in nature.

Qi has many important physiological effects on the human body. The normal functioning of the internal organs, meridians, limbs, bones, five senses and nine orifices all depends on the physiological effects of Qi.

Generally speaking, the physiological effects of Qi include five aspects: promotion, warming, defense, consolidation, and qi transformation.

Yuan Qi is the most original Qi in the human body.

Yuan Qi is mainly composed of the essence of the kidneys and is generated from the essence of the kidneys.

The distribution of primordial energy is throughout the body, reaching everywhere. The internal organs, meridians, body parts, five senses and nine orifices are all places where primordial energy rises, falls, enters and exits.

The main physiological functions of Yuan Qi are twofold: one is to promote and stimulate the growth, development and reproduction of the human body. The other is to promote and stimulate the physiological activities of the internal organs and meridians.

If the kidneys are deficient in essence and energy due to congenital deficiency, postnatal malnutrition, or long-term illness, and the kidneys lack the source of vital energy, various diseases may occur.

Zong Qi is the Qi that accumulates in the chest. The place where Zong Qi accumulates is called "Tan Zhong" (between the two breasts). Because it is the place where Zong Qi is most concentrated, it is also called "Qi Hai".

Zong Qi is mainly composed of the fresh air from nature inhaled by the lungs and the essence of water and grain produced by the spleen and stomach from food.

The main functions of Zong Qi are twofold:

1. It is to walk the Xi Dao to control breathing. All breathing, speech, and voice are related to the Zong Qi. When the Zong Qi is abundant, the breathing is slow and the rhythm is even, the speech is clear and the voice is loud; otherwise, the breathing is short and the voice is low.

Second, it is to circulate Qi and blood through the heart meridians. All the beating of the heart and the circulation of Qi and blood are related to Zong Qi. If the pulse is gentle, the rhythm is consistent, and there is spirit and root, it is a manifestation of abundant Zong Qi. On the contrary, if the pulse is agitated, scattered, weak, or irregular, it means that the Zong Qi is insufficient or even weak.

Zhongqi refers to the Qi of the middle burner. Because the spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, the Qi of the spleen and stomach is generally called "Zhongqi".

It is generally believed that the formation of Zhong Qi is formed by the combination of the Yuan Qi distributed in the Zhongjiao and the water and grain essence produced by the spleen and stomach.

The middle qi is mainly distributed in the middle burner, spreading between the spleen, stomach, and intestines, and it rises and falls, constantly mediating.

The main functions of Zhongqi include three aspects:

1. It controls the rise and fall of Qi. The middle burner is the hub of the rise and fall of Qi. When the middle Qi is abundant and harmonious, the Qi of the liver and spleen will rise healthily, and the Qi of the lungs and stomach will descend smoothly. When the rise and fall are smooth, all organs will be at peace.

Second, it stimulates the spleen and stomach to absorb and transport. When the middle qi is abundant, the spleen rises and the stomach descends normally, the water and grain are received and transported normally, and the essence of water and grain is continuously produced to generate qi and blood, nourishing the whole body.

Third, it maintains the position of the internal organs. The reason why the internal organs maintain their relatively constant position depends on the rise and fall of the qi of the middle jiao spleen and stomach.

Ying Qi, also known as "Rong Qi", is the Qi that flows in the veins.

The distribution and movement of Ying Qi are clearly discussed in Suwen Bi Lun, which points out that Ying Qi "harmonizes the five internal organs, flows through the six bowels, and then enters the meridians."

It explains that the nutrient energy enters the meridians, circulates throughout the body, flows into the internal organs, and reaches the limbs, repeating the cycle over and over again.

The main functions of Ying Qi:

1. It is the transformation of blood.

Second, it nourishes the whole body. The nourishing qi enters the blood vessels and causes the body fluids to penetrate into the blood vessels. The two combine to form blood.

The so-called Qi can produce blood, mainly refers to: Ying Qi transforms into blood. Ying Qi is produced by the refined part of the essence of grains, and is a nutrient necessary for physiological activities such as viscera and meridians, and plays an important role in maintaining human life activities.

The Inner Canon of Medicine states that the Nutritive Qi "harmonises the five internal organs, and spreads throughout the six bowels", "nourishes the four extremities", etc., which emphasizes that the Nutritive Qi has a nourishing effect.

Wei Qi is the Qi that circulates outside the veins. It is so called because it protects the skin and resists external pathogens.

The distribution of Wei Qi is fast, smooth and agile, and is not restricted by blood vessels, so it can "flow through the skin, between the flesh, fumigate the peritoneum, and spread to the chest and abdomen" (Suwen Bi Lun). This shows that Wei Qi spreads throughout the body, externally between the skin and muscles, and internally to the peritoneum of the chest and abdomen - the area inside the diaphragm of the chest cavity.

The main physiological functions of Wei Qi are three-fold:

First, it protects the skin and prevents the invasion of external pathogens. In clinical practice, if a patient is prone to colds and fever, the treatment is usually based on the theory that the Wei surface is not solid. The theoretical basis is here. Second, it warms the internal organs, muscles, fur, etc. Wei Qi has a strong warming effect. If Wei Yang is deficient, the warming power is weakened, and cold symptoms such as cold body, cold limbs and low body temperature may appear. If Wei Qi is stagnant and turns into heat, hot symptoms such as fever and malignant fever may appear.

Third, it regulates the opening and closing of pores and controls sweat excretion, which is what Lingshu Benzang says about the Wei Qi having the function of “controlling opening and closing”.

Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao: The TCM Herb for Clearing Heat and Infections

Properties of Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao

Nature and Channels

Main Benefits

Dosage

Growing Regions

Identification

Clinical Uses of Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao

Specific Benefits

Fish Mint Yu Xing Cao in TCM Formulas

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Modern Applications and Research

How to Use Yu Xing Cao Safely

Precautions

Usage Tips

Conclusion

Related Posts

中醫知識

The concept of Qi

Vitality

Zong Qi

Middle Qi

Ying Qi

Health

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