Herbal & Flower Teas
Fresh Houttuynia Decoction (Yu Xing Cao)
Traditionally used to clear heat and support skin prone to eczema
Why people make this
Bro Niu keeps fresh houttuynia (yu xing cao, sometimes called fish-mint for its distinctive smell) on hand when skin flares up. In traditional food-therapy thinking it is a cooling herb that helps “clear heat,” which is why people reach for it during itchy, red, eczema-prone spells. The freshest whole plant is prized for the strongest effect, but the white-rooted stem variety, available at Chinese or Asian grocers, works too.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with hot, itchy, eczema-prone skin who want a gentle traditional external wash.
- Houttuynia is cooling: those with a cold constitution should avoid taking large amounts internally. External washing is generally fine even for them.
- For broken, infected, or rapidly spreading skin, please see a doctor rather than relying on food therapy.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Houttuynia (yu xing cao): Traditionally regarded as a cooling, “heat-clearing” herb associated with calming red, inflamed, eczema-prone skin. It contains volatile oils, so it should not be boiled for long.
Ingredients (external wash, ~3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh houttuynia (yu xing cao) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Whole fresh plant is best; if using dried, halve the amount |
| Water | ~5 cups | Cooked down to ~3 cups |
Method
- Rinse the fresh houttuynia.
- Add it to cold water (start from cold), bring to a boil.
- Simmer only 15–20 minutes — no longer, as the active volatile oils are lost with long cooking.
- Strain. Use as an external wash, applying to affected skin 2–3 times a day. Make a fresh batch the next day rather than storing.
Bro Niu’s tips
The whole fresh plant gives the best effect; the white root-stem variety is also available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online. Because houttuynia contains volatile oils, do not over-boil it — keep cooking to within 15–20 minutes, or the benefit drops sharply. For a gentle food-therapy soup, fresh houttuynia can also be simmered with lean pork (about 15–20 minutes).
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Christine): I have a cold constitution — can I still use houttuynia? Bro Niu: Houttuynia is cooling, so people with a cold constitution should not over-take it internally. External use is no problem — apply 2–3 times a day, start from cold water, simmer 15 minutes. For nasal allergy you can steep about 8 magnolia (xin yi hua) flowers as a tea, with a little honey to taste.
- Q (Phoebe): Can I substitute dried houttuynia? Bro Niu: If you have dried houttuynia, halve the amount.
- Q (LAM LAM): Using only fresh houttuynia boiled in water as a skin wash — how much, how much water, and how many days can I keep it? Bro Niu: As an external wash, use about 75 g (2 liang) daily, simmer in 5 cups of water for 15 minutes down to 3 cups, and use three times across the day. Boil a fresh batch the next day.
Published June 2, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
