Fishwort/Origin

Origin
In English, it is known as lizard tail, chameleon plant, heartleaf, fishwort, and bishop's weed. It is one of two species in the genus Houttuynia, a flowering plant native to Japan, Korea, southern China, and Southeast Asia, where it grows in moist, shady places. Fishwort is used in folk medicine for diuresis and detoxification and herbal medicine for its antiviral, antibacterial and antileukemic activities. Recently it has been suggested that it might have anti-obesity properties. H. cordata was used by Chinese scientists to tackle SARS, as it is conventionally used to treat pneumonia. In Japan, the beverage dokudami cha is made from the dried leaves, widely used as a general detoxification for ridding the body of harmful bacteria.