What exactly is fish腥草? It's a perennial herb with a fishy odor throughout. Leaves are alternate, heart-shaped with fine glandular dots, often purple-tinged beneath;Bracteoles are membranous and linear, fused with the leaf stalk at the base to form a sheath. The inflorescence is a terminal spike with four white, petal-like bracts at the base. Flowers are small, bisexual, and lack perianth. Three stamens are present, with filaments fused to the ovary at the base. The pistil consists of three carpels fused at the base, forming a superior ovary.Capsule dehisces apically. Distributed in provinces south of the Yangtze River. Grows in wetlands or near water. The whole plant clears heat, detoxifies, promotes urination, and reduces swelling. Used to treat tonsillitis, lung abscesses, urinary tract infections, etc. Its active component is houttuynin, now synthetically produced. Below, we detail the side effects of fish腥草.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions of Houttuynia Cordata
Houttuynia Cordata Has Side Effects
Houttuynia cordata has minimal toxicity. Oral administration may cause a fishy odor, while intramuscular injection may result in local pain. It exhibits mild irritation to vaginal mucosa.Houttuynia cordata injection may trigger allergic reactions, including drug-induced dermatitis, peripheral neuritis, and allergic purpura. Severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock or even death, warranting serious attention.
Adverse Reactions of Houttuynia Cordata
This year, the suspension of Houttuynia cordata injection and six other traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections, along with persistent adverse reaction incidents involving TCM, have become focal points of public concern. Data from the Guangdong Provincial Adverse Drug Reaction Center indicates that newly reported adverse reactions for TCM formulations—long regarded as relatively safe—now lead all drug categories in reported incidents. The long-held belief that TCM lacks side effects appears increasingly fragile.Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), based on formula theory and the Inner Canon, categorizes prescriptions into major formulas, minor formulas, unique formulas, occasional formulas, and compound formulas. The advancement of TCM lies in compound formulas—combining multiple herbs that interact and balance each other to achieve high efficacy with minimal toxicity. In contrast, Western medicine relies on single-ingredient drugs. Their active components can be chemically synthesized with high purity, but without the balancing effects found in TCM formulas, they often carry significant side effects.
What is fish腥草? What are its side effects? This concludes our introduction. We hope this information proves helpful. Wishing you good health and smooth sailing this winter.