Nowadays, people become more health concerned by using natural treatments. Application of herb is one of the most popular ways to cure and improve health. Department of Medical Sciences, Thailand has the research of Phak khao tong or Phlukao saying that is a Thai herb that is not only used to be an ingredient but also used to develop medicine to prevent and cure defection as well as improve healthiness.

Heartleaf or Khowtong has the scientific name : Houttuynia cordata Thunb.Genus Houttuynia, is a flowering plant native to Japan, southern China and Southeast Asia, where it grows in moist, shady places.Houttuynia is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to between 20 and 80 cm. The proximal part of the stem is trailing and produces adventitious roots, while the distal part of the stem grows vertically. The leaves are alternate, broadly heart-shaped, 4-9 cm long and 3-8 cm broad. Flowers are greenish-yellow, borne on a terminal spike 2-3 cm long with 4-6 large white basal bracts.

Researchers have discovered that the red color on the leaves of Khowtong has the medicinal chemicals, healthy bacteria, micro-organisms, and a type of lactobacilli which enhances the body's immune system and inhibits the growth of cancerous cells. It is an anti-carcinoma and helps restrain the growth of cancer cells after radiation treatment, and operations on cancer of the breast, uterus, intestines, lungs, etc.The Khowtong herb can be extracted and made into a drink which has received registration with the government as a health supplement to be used in conjunction with medical radiation treatments. It helps stimulate the immune system of adult cancer patients. It enhances symptoms and helping extend life longer than radiation treatment itself.It is also been discovered the chemicals of Khowtong improve blood circulation which helps those suffering from paralysis, numb limbs, aching joints, gout, high or low blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, AIDS, allergies, constipation, hemorrhoids, and other diseases.The Pharmaceutical Properties of the Khowtong Herb (Houttuynia cordata Thunb), It enhances the immune system by stimulating the division of white blood cells and improving the effectiveness of the macrophage white blood cells in destroyling the cancer cells that can grow in the lungs (A549), brain (XF498), tumors (SK-MEL-2), ovaries (SK-OV-3), large intestine (Hct-15) and five types of cancerous white blood cells (L1210, K526, RALA P, HR1). It inhibits the growth of mold and many types of bacteria (H.influenza, S.aurenus, Mold and Yeast. It kills the virus HSV-1, the virus HIV-1 and the Influenaz virus without destroying the host cell. It helps resist bronchitis by decreasing the production of Posta glandin which is a chemical that increases irritation.

This Information Concerning the Khowtong herb comes from the Herbal Medical Research Institute Ministry of Public Health, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
ISBN : 974-92155-5-9