Houttuynia Cordata Pork Stomach Soup: Benefits & How to Make

Houttuynia cordata (heartleaf houttuynia) Stewed Pork Stomach – Medicinal Diet Education

Introduction to Medicinal Diet

Houttuynia cordata (鱼腥草) stewed with pork stomach (猪肚) is a traditional Chinese medicinal cuisine that combines delicious flavor with therapeutic benefits, originating from the southwestern and Jiangnan regions of China. Houttuynia cordata, also known as “Jicai” or “Zhe’ergen,” derives its name from the distinctive fishy odor released when its fresh stems and leaves are crushed. It is recorded in the *Compendium of Materia Medica* (《本草纲目》) as a medicinal herb for “dispelling heat-toxin and treating carbuncles and swellings.” Pork stomach, the stomach of a pig, is traditionally used in the folk concept of “like treating like” (以形补形) to nourish and strengthen the Spleen and Stomach when they are deficient. When these two ingredients are simmered together into a soup, the broth turns milky white and clear, with a savory, slightly sweet, and lingering aftertaste. The fishy odor transforms during cooking into a unique, rich aroma that greatly stimulates the appetite.

The formulation of this medicinal dish is rooted in the TCM theory of “medicine and food sharing the same origin,” combining heat-clearing and toxin-resolving *Houttuynia cordata* (heartleaf houttuynia) with middle-warming and deficiency-supplementing pig stomach to create a unique pattern of “clearing while supplementing.” *Houttuynia cordata* is slightly cold in nature, enters the Lung Meridian (LU), and excels at clearing lung heat and resolving heat toxins; pig stomach is warm in nature, enters the Spleen and Stomach Meridians (SP, ST), and can supplement deficiency and strengthen the spleen and stomach. The cold and warm components mutually restrain each other, avoiding the harm of coldness damaging the stomach while preserving the effects of clearing heat and draining dampness. This makes it especially suitable for consumption during the transition from spring to summer or in seasons marked by heavy damp-heat. Modern nutritional science has found that *Houttuynia cordata* is rich in volatile oils, flavonoids, and various vitamins, while pig stomach contains abundant collagen and trace elements; their synergistic action can enhance the body’s immune function.

Origin and Culture of Medicinal Cuisine

In regions such as Guizhou and Sichuan, Houttuynia cordata (fish mint) stewed with pig stomach is a commonly used folk “Lung-Clearing Soup.” Older generations often use it to relieve throat discomfort caused by excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption. In the Lingnan area, it is customary to prepare this soup during seasonal transitions, as it is believed to “clear internal heat and dispel dampness toxin,” helping the body adapt to climatic changes. In recent years, with the promotion of TCM medicinal cuisine culture, this soup has moved beyond local dining tables and become a signature soup in many health-preservation restaurants.

Efficacy of Medicinal Diet

The core effects of Houttuynia cordata stewed with pork stomach can be summarized as “clear Heat, resolve Toxins, fortify the Spleen, and supplement Deficiency.” The active components in Houttuynia cordata, such as quercitrin and decanoylacetaldehyde, exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and inhibit pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and influenza viruses. Therefore, it serves as an effective supportive remedy for heat-type conditions such as wind-heat common cold, sore throat, and tonsillitis. Additionally, Houttuynia cordata enhances the phagocytic capacity of white blood cells, helping the body eliminate endotoxins, earning it the nickname “natural antibiotic.”

Pig stomach, as an animal organ food ingredient, is rich in easily absorbed heme iron and high-quality protein, effectively improving sallow complexion, fatigue, and dizziness due to qi and blood deficiency. The mucous membrane of pig stomach contains gastrin and various digestive enzymes, which gently stimulate gastric juice secretion, making it especially beneficial for individuals with chronic gastritis, poor appetite, and diminished digestive function. When stewed together, the medicinal effects and food-based nourishment complement each other: Houttuynia cordata (fish mint) clears heat from the Lung and Stomach, while pig stomach tonifies deficiency in the Middle Jiao. This combination clears without damaging healthy qi and tonifies without promoting pathogens, achieving a balanced state of “dispelling pathogens while supporting healthy qi”.

Evidence from modern research

Recent pharmacological studies have shown that extracts from Houttuynia cordata (heartleaf houttuynia) can significantly reduce pulmonary inflammatory responses, lowering levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Meanwhile, collagen peptides derived from pig stomach (porcine stomach) aid in repairing the gastric mucosal barrier, reducing irritation of the ulcer surface by gastric acid. This provides a modern scientific interpretation of traditional efficacy.

The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine

From the perspective of TCM nature, flavor, and meridian tropism, *Houttuynia cordata* (Heartleaf Houttuynia) is acrid in flavor and slightly cold in nature. It enters the Lung Meridian (LU) specifically, and also enters the Bladder Meridian (BL). Acridity disperses nodules, and coldness clears heat; therefore, it excels at clearing and draining lung heat, dissipating abscesses, and expelling pus. It is a classic herb for treating lung abscess (pulmonary abscess) with cough and expectoration of pus and blood. *Ben Cao Jing Shu* (Materia Medica Annotations) praises it as “the essential herb for treating phlegm-heat obstructing the lung, which develops into lung abscess with expectoration of pus and blood.” Pig’s Stomach is sweet in flavor and warm in nature, entering the Spleen Meridian (SP) and Stomach Meridian (ST). Sweetness tonifies the middle burner, and warmth disperses cold. It is adept at supplementing deficiency and depletion, fortifying the spleen and stomach, and is especially effective for alleviating spleen deficiency diarrhea and consumptive disease with emaciation.

In terms of compatibility, the Houttuynia cordata (Heartleaf Houttuynia) is tempered by the warm, moistening nature of the pig’s stomach, which moderates its cold property, ensuring a gentle and sustained heat-clearing effect without damaging Stomach yang. Conversely, the pig’s stomach benefits from the clear and dispersing action of Houttuynia, making it tonifying without causing stagnation, thus preventing cloying obstruction of the Stomach. Together, they achieve the effect of “clearing the Upper and warming the Middle, harmonizing the Lungs and Stomach.” For cases of Lung heat cough accompanied by poor appetite, or for those with damp-heat obstructing the Middle while the Spleen and Stomach are already deficient, this medicinal dish is especially suited to the pathogenesis. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that “the Spleen is the source of phlegm production, and the Lung is the container for phlegm storage.” This dish not only clears phlegm-heat from the Lungs but also tonifies Spleen deficiency—truly a remarkable formula addressing both root and branch.

Indications

This medicinal diet is most suitable for the following five groups of people: First, long-term smokers or passive smokers—*Houttuynia cordata* (fish mint) helps clear accumulated smoke toxins from the Lung, alleviating dry cough and throat itching. Second, patients with chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis—taking it during the non-acute phase can strengthen respiratory resistance and reduce the frequency of recurrence. Third, those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency and indigestion, manifesting as poor appetite, postprandial abdominal distension, and loose stools—the tonifying effect of pig stomach gradually improves the transportation and transformation function of the Middle Burner.

Fourth, for office workers under high work stress and frequent late nights leading to deficiency-fire flaring upward, who often present with “heat上火” symptoms such as oral ulcers, recurrent acne, and dry sore throat, this dietary remedy can clear deficiency-fire without damaging the vital qi. Fifth, for adolescents in puberty experiencing recurrent facial acne accompanied by sticky, unsmooth stools, consuming this dish once or twice weekly can help internally regulate the damp-heat constitution and improve skin condition.

Contraindicated Populations

First, those with a pronounced deficient-cold constitution should not consume it in excess, manifested specifically by aversion to cold, cold extremities, loose watery cold stools, and a pale puffy tongue with a white slippery coating. The slightly cold nature of Houttuynia cordata (heartleaf houttuynia) may aggravate deficient-cold symptoms; in such cases, the dosage of Houttuynia cordata can be reduced to 10 grams, and 5 slices of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and 3 pieces of Ziziphus jujuba (Chinese jujube) added to counteract its cold nature.

Secondly, pregnant and breastfeeding women should exercise caution. Certain volatile oil components in *Houttuynia cordata* (heartleaf houttuynia) have a mild stimulating effect on uterine smooth muscle; excessive consumption may increase unnecessary risks. It is recommended to avoid it especially during early pregnancy, and during the second and third trimesters, it should only be used sparingly and occasionally under medical supervision. Thirdly, it is contraindicated in individuals allergic to *Houttuynia cordata* or pork stomach. Those with allergic constitutions may experience rashes, pruritus, or other reactions upon contact with *Houttuynia cordata* and should discontinue use immediately. Fourthly, it is unsuitable for patients with severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, as animal offal has a high purine content, which may increase metabolic burden.

Ingredient proportions in a formula

Fresh Houttuynia cordata (Fish Mint/Yu Xing Cao) 100 g (reduce to 15 g if using dried form), 1 fresh pig stomach (approximately 500 g), fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 15 g (sliced), 6 Red Dates (Ziziphus jujuba) (pitted), Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) 10 g, Yellow Rice Wine (Shaoxing wine) 20 ml, White Pepper Powder 2 g, Salt to taste. This is a single serving for 2–3 people; adjust proportionally if increasing the number of servings.

Selection criteria: Fresh houttuynia (Houttuynia cordata) with plump stems and leaves, well-developed roots, and a strong, characteristic aroma is preferred; yellowing leaves or a faint odor indicate diminished medicinal efficacy. For pork stomach, choose fresh ones with a pinkish color, abundant mucus, and no off-putting odor; frozen products are inferior in both texture and nutrition. Red dates (Ziziphus jujuba) should be dried, pitted to avoid heatiness; goji berries (Lycium barbarum) from Ningxia, large and bright red, are considered superior.

Cooking method

Step one, cleaning the pork stomach is the key to success. Turn the pork stomach inside out, first rinse off the surface mucus with running water. Then mix 50g of flour with 30ml of white vinegar, repeatedly knead the inside and outside of the pork stomach for about 3 minutes, then rinse clean with water. Repeat this step once until the surface of the pork stomach is clean and free of slipperiness. Finally, blanch the pork stomach in boiling water for 2 minutes, remove and scrape off the white fatty membrane, cut into strips about 2 cm wide, and set aside.

Second, carefully remove the old roots and rotten leaves from Houttuynia cordata (fish mint), retaining the tender stems, leaves, and fibrous roots. Soak in light salt water for 10 minutes, then remove and rinse twice with clean water to remove any mud and sand. Slice the ginger (Zingiber officinale). Lightly soak the red dates (Ziziphus jujuba) and goji berries (Lycium barbarum) in warm water.

Step three, use a clay pot or ceramic stew pot. Place the prepared pig stomach strips, ginger slices, and Chinese dates (Ziziphus jujuba) together. Add sufficient clean water (approximately 1500 ml) and pour in yellow rice wine. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer gently for 1.5 hours.

Step four, once the pig stomach is tender and soft, add the fish mint (Houttuynia cordata) and goji berries (Lycium barbarum). Continue simmering for 15 to 20 minutes, until the aroma of fish mint emerges and the soup turns milky white, then turn off the heat. Finally, sprinkle with white pepper powder (Piper nigrum) and salt to season. Serve in bowls and enjoy.

Tips for Consumption

1. Timely Consumption: The optimal times to consume this dietary tonic are from 9 to 11 AM (Si Shi, Spleen Meridian [SP] peak period) or from 5 to 7 PM (You Shi, Kidney Meridian [KI] peak period). At these times, the body’s digestive and absorptive functions are stronger, allowing for higher utilization of the medicinal components. It is recommended to consume no more than twice per week, with a continuous regimen of one month as a treatment course.

2. Technique for Handling the “Fishy Odor” of Fresh Houttuynia cordata (fish mint): If you find its characteristic smell difficult to tolerate on first consumption, you may blanch the fresh houttuynia in boiling water for 10 seconds before adding it to the soup. This significantly reduces the fishy odor, though it will cause some loss of volatile oil components. Additionally, the white pepper powder in the soup not only seasons—its acrid-warm nature also assists the medicinal action of houttuynia in ascending to the lung. Do not omit it.

3. Storage and Reheating of Leftover Soup: Any uneaten soup should be strained to remove the Houttuynia cordata (which develops a bitter taste when steeped for too long). The pork stomach and the broth should be stored separately in the refrigerator and can be kept for up to two days. When reheating, add fresh Houttuynia cordata and bring to a boil again. Avoid repeated reheating to prevent nutrient loss. Additionally, this soup should not be consumed in the same meal with cold-natured fruits (such as watermelon or pear), as this may weaken its spleen-tonifying effect.