*3.3.3 Dokudami (Houttuynia cordata)*

The origin is Japan, Southeast Asia, and China (**Figure 3(3)**). A cold resistance and perennial, 20–30 cm height, rhizome propagation, dokudami inhabit

**Figure 3.** 

*Medicinal and aromatic plants in Asia. (1) Japanese pepper, (2) kumazasa, (3) dokudami, (4) Japanese mugwort, (5) wasabi, (6) hinoki cypress, and (7) Chinese quince.* 

throughout Japan, and the whole plant is used for cosmetics and cooking. The dried leaves have no offensive odor compared with flesh. The crude drug effects for diuresis, laxative, anti-inflammatory, detoxification, and the herb tea relieves a constipation, hypertension, and strengthen capillary. However, dokudami is inappropriate for weakening sufferer. A tincture is used as body lotion for skin care, and crushed flesh leaves are used for dermatological problem, for example, to put crushed flesh leaves on a rash. The constituents of dokudami are quercetin, quercitrin, potassium, and rutin.

## *3.3.4 Japanese mugwort (Artemisia indica)*

 The origin is Japan, perennial, 50–100 cm height, the back side of leaf has fluff, and Japanese mugwort is used as medicine for eczema, stanching, toothache, stomachic, and diarrhea since ninth century in Japan (**Figure 3(4)**). A collected fluff is used for moxa treatment and decoction of leaves effects eczema, heat rash, lumbago, and hemorrhoids. Japanese mugwort is used for side dishes and flavor of steamed rice cake and dye in daily life. The constituents are vitamin

 B1, B2, C, D, β-carotene, chlorophyll, and minerals. The essential oil includes 1,8-cineole, thujone, β-caryophyllene, borneol, and camphor. The person who has an allergy of Asteraceae should be careful.
