There is no difference between Folding Ear Root and Fishweed.
Folding Ear Root generally refers to Fishy Grass, and the two are differently called but identical Chinese medicines. Fishy grass is the fresh whole grass or dried aboveground part of Houttuynia cordata, family Sambucus, with fishy odor, astringent taste, slightly cold nature, and belongs to the lung meridian.
Fishweed has the efficacy and function of clearing heat and removing toxins, eliminating carbuncle and draining pus, diuretic and diaphoretic (improving the problem of dribbling of urine, and the problem of small amount of urine not being able to pass), and it is mainly used in treating carbuncle of the lungs (lung abscess) with vomiting of pus, phlegm-heat and wheezing, carbuncle, swelling, and sores and poisons, wet-heat gonorrhea (increased frequency of urination, and astringent and painful dribbling), and wet-heat diarrhea (diarrhea caused by feeling wet-heat evils).
Fishy grass is mainly used for internal use after boiling, but need to pay attention to, decoction time should not be too long; Fishy grass can also take the appropriate amount of crushed and applied externally to the affected area. However, the nature of the herb is slightly cold, so patients with deficiency cold and yin sores need to be careful to avoid aggravating the condition.
In order to ensure that the medication is safe and effective, it is recommended that patients go to a regular Chinese medicine hospital when they feel unwell, and use the medication under the guidance of a professional Chinese medicine practitioner, rather than blindly using the medication on their own.