Houttuynia cordata, also known as fish mint or chameleon plant, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Saururaceae family. The genus Houttuynia is named after the Dutch botanist Maarten Houttuyn. The species epithet cordata means “heart-shaped,” describing the form of its leaves. Native to Southeast Asia and East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Himalayan foothills, it grows in moist, shady environments and is easily recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves and creeping rhizomes. The plant is valued both as a culinary herb and medicinal plant, though its pungent flavor and odor—often described as “fishy,” hence the name “fish mint”—makes it polarizing.

Culinarily, H. cordata is used fresh as a salad herb or garnish in Vietnamese, Lao, and Thai cuisines, particularly in salads, spring rolls, and as a side to spicy dishes. In Chinese cuisine, especially in Sichuan and Guizhou, its rhizomes are eaten pickled or stir-fried. In Japan, it is known as dokudami (poison breaker) and is more commonly used as an herbal tea.

Medicinally, the plant has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as “yu xing cao” (鱼腥草), meaning “fishy-smelling herb,” where it is prescribed for respiratory infections, inflammation, and detoxification. Modern pharmacological studies confirm antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to its diverse bioactive compounds.