Can Feeding Houttuynia cordata to Pigs Treat Pig Diseases? The Truth Explained in One Article

Houttuynia cordata is a common Chinese herbal medicine that can grow in any soil and can also be planted in large quantities on your own. Many pig farmers in rural areas grow it to feed pigs, and it is said to be able to treat pig diseases. Is this true?

Generally speaking, using Houttuynia cordata as green feed for pigs is beneficial, for example: it improves the pig's body functions, enhances immunity, and can also have antiviral effects, etc. So does this mean that Houttuynia cordata can treat pig diseases?

Let's look at a few real cases:

Case 1: A sow at Li's pig farm suffered inflammation and an abscess in the left hind limb due to trauma, was unable to stand, and had a complete loss of appetite.

Treatment: An appropriate amount of dried Houttuynia cordata stems and leaves was ground into powder, fresh whole Houttuynia cordata was pounded into juice, and the juice was mixed with the powder into a paste, which was applied to the affected area, 1 dose/day, for 3 consecutive days, combined with oral administration of fresh whole Houttuynia cordata, 50-100 g per day, for 3 consecutive days. After the above treatment, the purulent wound showed obvious contraction, healed quickly, and was cured in 3 days, and the pig's appetite recovered well, with no complications.

Case 2: One gilt at Zhang's farm, weighing 60 kg, had urine that was like lime milk, dripping without forming a stream, and was unable to urinate completely.

Treatment: 100 g of fresh whole Houttuynia cordata was chopped and mixed into the feed, 2 doses per day, for 3 consecutive days. At the same time, on days 1-2, amoxicillin powder was orally administered at 50 g/day. The affected pig recovered after 3 days. All physical signs returned to normal, with no complications.

Case 3: Wang had one multiparous sow that was in the suitable mating period. Symptoms showed sticky, thick, yellow-white discharge from the vulva, and repeated mating without conception.

Treatment: 500 g of fresh whole Houttuynia cordata was squeezed for juice, 10-20 mL of filtrate was taken, mixed with 300 mL of normal saline, and used to flush the affected animal's vagina, 1 dose per day, for 3 consecutive days; combined with 100 g of fresh whole Houttuynia cordata, chopped and mixed into the feed, 2 doses per day, for 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the pig urinated clearly. It came into estrus normally and mated successfully.

Case 4: Zhao's 5 piglets, with an average weight of 25 kg, showed symptoms of dry, hard feces like beads, poor appetite, gradually rough and dull hair coat without luster, and listlessness.

Treatment: Dried Houttuynia cordata stems and leaves were ground into powder and mixed with a small amount of piglet starter feed for oral feeding, 10-20 g per piglet. For those with more severe symptoms that would not eat, fresh whole Houttuynia cordata was squeezed for juice, and 10-20 mL was taken for oral administration, for 3-5 consecutive doses. The constipation symptoms were relieved, and appetite returned to normal.

Case 5: 9 piglets in the same pen at a pig farm showed symptoms of damp-heat diarrhea, with yellow-white porridge-like loose stools, rough hair coat, listlessness, reduced appetite, huddling and drowsiness, and symptoms of dehydration.

Treatment: Fresh whole Houttuynia cordata was squeezed for juice, 5-10 mL was taken + 15-20 mL of medical glucose-saline + 5-8 g of purple-skinned garlic, mixed and administered orally, 1 dose per day, effective after 3 consecutive days. Among these, for piglet yellow diarrhea, the glucose-saline in the above formula can be replaced with white sugar water, and for piglet white diarrhea, brown sugar water can be used. Clinical practice has proven that both can achieve good therapeutic effects.

Case 6: A farmer's 12 finishing pigs used Shi Yao (dried Houttuynia cordata ground into powder) for preventive health care throughout the entire feeding process. Especially during the high-incidence periods of disease in spring and autumn, it was mixed into the feed at a ratio of 1 g:5 kg for oral feeding, for 15-30 consecutive days, achieving a good health-care and preventive effect. Until slaughter, no disease occurred at all.

It can thus be seen that adding Houttuynia cordata to pig feed can still greatly reduce and decrease the occurrence and harm of many diseases such as swine fever, pneumonia, influenza, and paratyphoid. Moreover, Houttuynia cordata has a fishy smell, and this smell is very suitable for pigs' taste, so pigs love to eat it. Generally, fresh grass is better for feeding pigs, and the feeding amount should account for 20%-25% of the total feed. Feeding it continuously can achieve very good results.