Clear Heat / Relieve Toxicity: Yu Xing Cao

Yu Xing Cao - dried medicinal herb, above (looks like most of the other dried up herbs that are leaves), below is what it looks like fresh:




Yu Xing Cao is the herb whose name means "fishy smelling herb." Disappointingly, though, in the herb bag it smells like all the rest. The Latin name for the herb is Houttuynia cordata herb. It has the distinction of being the only plant in the genus Houttuynia. I'm curious about what makes it so special. Yu Xing Cao is a flowering plant that is native to Asia, likes the shade and thrives in moist, or even wet, conditions. Perhaps this is why the fishy smelling herb promotes urination as one of its primary functions? By promoting urination, Yu Xing Cao will drain damp heat.

It's primary function as a medicinal herb, however, is lung abscesses with thick yellow-green sputum. Here is a lung with an abscess:
I was tempted to put a picture of thick yellow-green sputum as well, but just couldn't go there.

Since clearing heat and toxicity from the lungs and draining damp heat through the promotion of urination are its primary functions, it makes sense that the two channels it travels to are the Lung and Large Intestine. Like the shady, moist areas where it grows, Yu Xing Cao is a cool herb. It is also spicy.

In Vietnam Yu Xing Cao is used like parsley is used in America, as a fresh herbal garnish. They call it "fish mint." Since it has this odd fishy taste, it is not necessarily the most used herbal garnish in the pantry. Using your imagination, the name might be pronounced "You stink so."
Above: a fish peeing (Yu Xing Cao smells fishy and promotes urination)
In the U.S. and Australia, the herb is considered an invasive alien species. A weed that spreads rapidly. Its nickname is heartleaf. You can see why.