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Is Houttuynia cordata (fish mint) cold-natured or hot-natured?

Jun 25, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Houttuynia cordata is a cold-natured herb. The use of traditional Chinese medicinal materials should follow medical advice. Additionally, records in classical TCM literature regarding the properties of Houttuynia cordata clearly indicate its cold nature. This characteristic necessitates its appropriate use based on individual constitution, both medicinally and as food. In particular, individuals with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach or yang deficiency constitution should pay attention to controlling the dosage or avoid using it alone.

Generally speaking, Houttuynia cordata (fish mint) is a herbal medicine with cold properties. The use of traditional Chinese medicines should follow medical advice. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Houttuynia cordata has a sweet and pungent taste and slightly cold nature, acting on the lung meridian. It functions to clear heat, remove toxicity, resolve abscesses, discharge pus, promote diuresis, and relieve dysuria. It is commonly used to treat conditions associated with heat syndromes, such as lung-heat cough, carbuncles and abscesses, and damp-heat urinary disorders. Based on its therapeutic effects and clinical applications, its cold nature enables it to effectively eliminate internal heat pathogens and alleviate various discomforts caused by excessive heat. For example, when symptoms such as sore throat or lung infection (heat syndromes) occur, Houttuynia cordata is often used as an adjunct for regulation and treatment, precisely utilizing its cold nature to balance the body's excessive internal heat.

In addition, classical TCM literature clearly records Houttuynia cordata as having cold properties. This characteristic necessitates its appropriate use based on individual constitutions, both medicinally and as food. Individuals with deficiency-cold constitution in the spleen and stomach or yang deficiency should pay attention to controlling the dosage or avoid using it alone, to prevent excessive coldness from damaging the body's yang energy and potentially causing gastrointestinal discomfort or other issues.

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