Can Houttuynia cordata assist in the treatment of pneumonia?

Jul 23, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Pneumonia presents with symptoms of lung heat such as cough and yellow, thick phlegm. When the condition is mild and without significant complications, using Houttuynia cordata (fishy-smelling herb) in combination with other appropriate traditional Chinese medicines under professional guidance, along with standardized treatment, may help alleviate pulmonary heat symptoms and provide certain adjunctive benefits. However, this should be strictly carried out according to medical advice. Adjunctive therapy is not suitable for severe pneumonia or cases belonging to other syndrome types.

Generally, Houttuynia cordata can be used as an adjunctive treatment for pneumonia when the condition belongs to the lung-heat syndrome and symptoms are mild. However, it is not recommended as an adjunctive treatment when pneumonia is severe or belongs to other syndrome types. If any abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention is advised. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Pneumonia presents with lung-heat symptoms such as coughing and yellow, thick phlegm. When the illness is mild without significant complications, Houttuynia cordata may be combined with other appropriate traditional Chinese herbs under professional guidance and used alongside standard medical treatment to possibly help alleviate lung heat symptoms and provide certain adjunctive benefits. However, this must strictly follow medical advice.

If pneumonia is severe with symptoms such as high fever and difficulty breathing, or belongs to the deficiency-cold syndrome type, Houttuynia cordata should not be used as an adjunctive treatment. In such cases, standardized Western medical treatment is required to control infection. Using Houttuynia cordata blindly may delay treatment and potentially worsen physical discomfort due to its cold nature.

In daily life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, improving dietary habits, engaging in appropriate physical exercise, and enhancing overall physical fitness can help reduce the risk of lung diseases.

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