Heartleaf Dokudami Japanese Traditional Tea

Embrace the ancient wisdom of Japan with this traditional tea, long appreciated for supporting the body’s natural cleansing rhythms.

In Japanese folk practice, dokudami is regarded as a versatile wellness herb and is traditionally called jūyaku, meaning “ten medicines.” The number ten is symbolic, expressing the herb’s long-standing reputation for many different uses rather than ten specific remedies.

The name dokudami combines doku (毒, “toxin”) and dame (止め, “to stop”), reflecting its traditional association with cleansing and balance.

• Supports the body’s water balance
• Helps maintain natural cleansing and regularity processes
• Often enjoyed during periods of dietary change or weight-management routines

Modern research has also examined its antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds (see references below).

Easy to prepare and naturally caffeine-free. Enjoy it hot or cold — how-to below.

Wild-Harvested • All-Natural

Pesticide-free. Freshly-picked sun-dried leaves, uncrushed for optimal quality.

About Dokudami

Dokudami is a Japanese native flowering plant with beautiful heart-shaped leaves and delicate white blossoms. Its scientific name is Houttuynia cordata, also known as Heartleaf.

In everyday Japanese it is known as dokudami. In traditional herbal practice its formal name is Jūyaku (十薬), meaning “ten medicines,” a reflection of its long-standing reputation as a multi-purpose herb.

Dokudami leaves are also listed in the Pharmacopoeia of Japan (Nippon Yakkyoku-hō), which establishes official identity and quality standards for this plant as a recognized ingredient in Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo and herbal practice).

How to Brew

Quick Brew Method
The following instructions are for making 4 cups (800 ml total.)

1. Add 5 grams (2 heaping tablespoons) of dokudami leaves to a pot.
2. Add 4 cups of near-boiling water.
3. Brew for about 3 minutes.
4. Strain and serve hot, cold or over ice.

Senjiru Brew Method
Senjiru is a traditional Japanese technique for yielding a deeper infusion.

1. Pour a little more than 4 cups of cold water into a pot.
2. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of dokudami leaves.
3. Heat to a full, rolling boil.
4. Turn heat down and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Turn heat off and wait for 10 minutes.
6. Strain and serve.

REFERENCES

• Houttuynia Herba — Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP XVIII), 2021
• Antioxidative effects of polyphenols in Houttuynia cordata leaves — Journal of Medicinal Food, 2005.
• Biological and antibacterial activities of Houttuynia cordata water extract — Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2008.
• Anti-obesity effects of Houttuynia cordata water extract in mice — Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 2010.
• Detoxification-related compounds isolated from Houttuynia cordata — Journal of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry, 2014.