Dokudami is a perennial herb native to Japan, China, and Korea. It has a long-standing culinary use in Asian cooking and has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic traditional medicine. It’s believed to offer positive benefits to the immune system and respiratory tract.

Known by its scientific name, Houttuynia cordata, dokudami is a flowering plant native to Asia. Dokudami grows mostly in dark, moist areas, sometimes submerged deep in freshwater areas. An invasive plant, dokudami can be found growing on hills, fields, and even between cracks in asphalt. It’s known as “fishy-smell herb” in Asia because when you press its leaves it produces an odor similar to that of fish. Dokudami also means “poison-blocking plant” in some cultures, and was often used for the exact same purpose. The leaves are heart shaped in appearance and used as a garnish for soups, meats, and cooked vegetables.

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1. Allergies
In a recent article, researchers examined dokudami’s effects against allergies and asthma.Both issues are the result of the excessive release of histamine, a compound that initiates a local immune response to toxin exposure. When the body is allergic to a substance, the substance causes the body to produce an excess of histamine. Often known as anaphylactic reactions, repeated exposure to an allergic substance can be life threatening if not dealt with properly. Studies demonstrate that dokudami has excellent inhibitory effects on histamine release, possibly blocking the compound and reducing anaphylactic effects.

2. Combats Free Radicals
A free radical is any chemical compound with a free, unpaired electron. Compounds with a missing electron are often unstable and exert damage on other compounds, cells, and DNA. Free radicals aren’t all bad, though, as we need these compounds–in minute concentrations–for appropriate biological functions. Unfortunately, our exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals in our food create an increased production of these harmful radical compounds. Research has linked free radicals to aging, cancer, and a host of other ills. Dokudami has been billed as an excellent free radical scavenger, supporting the body’s efforts in neutralizing circulating free radicals. The herb contains polyphenols, potent compounds that display a high amount of antioxidant activity.

3. Bacteria Protection
Bacteria is essential for life, and we simply cannot survive without a proper balance of bacteria in both our body and the environment. Good bacteria is important for digestion, among a range of other mechanisms. A recent article has shown that dokudami fights a variety of harmful bacteria in the digestive system, particularly Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Both types are the primary cause of acne, prompting many professionals to recommend dokudami as a natural, helpful skin supporter.

4. Immune System Support
Research has shown that dokudami may help stimulate the immune system by increasing the production of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are crucial for the body’s natural defense system. These white blood cells are sometimes referred to as natural killer cells, and a plethora of research has found that these cells are important for fighting numerous degenerative diseases

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