For your skin
A calming K-beauty botanical that's also antibacterial, so it pairs well for acne-prone, sensitive skin.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Quercetin-rich botanical with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects useful in acne-prone skin.
Why we tier this moderate
8 cited papers across 4 countries. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.
Layering matrix
Cited research
Song Z et al., Inhibition of LPS-Induced Skin Inflammatory Response and Barrier Damage via MAPK/NF-kB Signaling Pathway by Houttuynia cordata Thunb Fermentation Broth, Foods 2024
Kwon N et al., Protective Effects of Fermented Houttuynia cordata Against UVA and H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Keratinocytes, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2023;195(5):3027-3046 — Korean-authored; fermented H. cordata showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection against UVA/H2O2 stress
Rafiq S et al., Pharmacological Effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata): A Comprehensive Review, Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022
Yang JH et al., Clinical efficacy of herbal extracts in treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris: an 8-week, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, J Dermatolog Treat 2021;32(3):297-301 — DB RCT n=60; multi-herb combo — benefit not isolated to Houttuynia
Wu Z et al., Houttuynia cordata Thunb: An Ethnopharmacological Review, Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021;12:714694 — anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral effects supporting topical applications
Mapoung S et al., Photoprotective Effects of a Hyperoside-Enriched Fraction Prepared from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. on Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Aging in Human Fibroblasts through the MAPK Signaling Pathway, Plants 2021;10(12):2628 — hyperoside-enriched H. cordata protected fibroblasts from UVB-induced collagen breakdown
Shingnaisui K et al., Therapeutic potentials of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. against inflammation and oxidative stress: A review, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2018;220:35-43 — H. cordata extracts possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with no demonstrated toxicity
Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Houttuynia cordata poultice, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 2016 — in-vitro mechanism; no human controlled trial for skin to date. (Published in a Japanese journal: BBB is the official journal of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry; J-Stage-indexed.)
Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.