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TCM Treasures - Yu xing cao 鱼腥草
By Wing Tan |
August 5, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HEARTLEAF houttuynia herb is an easily grown herb, widely used for clearing inner heat, and dispelling toxins. Its applications include treating heat canker sores, heat dysentery, malaria, sinusitis, edema, eczema and hemorrhoids.
Due to its unpleasant smell, it is popularly known as yu xing cao, literally stinky fish "grass". The use of the herb in traditional Chinese medicine is first recorded during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
In 1073, a big storm swept across western Hunan Province. In the aftermath, many people were struck down with dysentery.
One family escaped the outbreak and the head of the household tried to persuade fellow villagers to eat a plant that smelled like fish because he found pigs that fed on it stayed healthy.
Thus the medicinal properties of yu xing cao became more widely known.
Today, yu xing cao has become a popular food. It is easy to cook - stewed or stir-fried - or eaten raw when fresh.
Yu xing cao is a "cold" TCM herb with a bitter taste. It travels through the energy channels in the lungs, bladder and large intestine. It grows on the south bank of the Yangtze River and is best collected in summer, while in full flower.
For dysentery
? Boil 30g yu xing cao with 10g shan zha tan (hawthorn that is stir-fried until blackened).
? Drink with sugar or honey.
For chronic sinusitis
? Mash yu xing cao and collect the juice. Take as nasal drops whenever needed.
? Boil 35g yu xing cao. Drink the soup and eat the grass.
For hemorrhoids
? Boil yu xing cao in a large pot. Drink with a small quantity of rice wine.
? The dregs can be applied to the hemorrhoids.
Due to its unpleasant smell, it is popularly known as yu xing cao, literally stinky fish "grass". The use of the herb in traditional Chinese medicine is first recorded during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
In 1073, a big storm swept across western Hunan Province. In the aftermath, many people were struck down with dysentery.
One family escaped the outbreak and the head of the household tried to persuade fellow villagers to eat a plant that smelled like fish because he found pigs that fed on it stayed healthy.
Thus the medicinal properties of yu xing cao became more widely known.
Today, yu xing cao has become a popular food. It is easy to cook - stewed or stir-fried - or eaten raw when fresh.
Yu xing cao is a "cold" TCM herb with a bitter taste. It travels through the energy channels in the lungs, bladder and large intestine. It grows on the south bank of the Yangtze River and is best collected in summer, while in full flower.
For dysentery
? Boil 30g yu xing cao with 10g shan zha tan (hawthorn that is stir-fried until blackened).
? Drink with sugar or honey.
For chronic sinusitis
? Mash yu xing cao and collect the juice. Take as nasal drops whenever needed.
? Boil 35g yu xing cao. Drink the soup and eat the grass.
For hemorrhoids
? Boil yu xing cao in a large pot. Drink with a small quantity of rice wine.
? The dregs can be applied to the hemorrhoids.
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