Abstract: Houttuynia cordata Thunb, a medical herb, has an inherent odor due to lauric aldehyde and homologs thereof contained therein. This invention provides a method of removing said inherent odor from Houttuynia cordata Thunb which comprises subjecting green Houttuynia cordata Thunb to a heat-treatment and then fermenting the thus heat-treated Houttuynia cordata Thunb with yeast, koji or a mixture thereof inoculated therein.

Abstract: A method for producing a reduced-pressure shaped mould comprises the steps of placing a pattern having gas-permeable orifices on a surface plate and adhering a coating film that is soluble in a solvent to the pattern by suction through the orifices. A flask having evacuating means is then placed on the surface plate on top of the film and the space portion defined by the film and the flask is filled with solid particles containing no caking agent which serves as a mould material. The mould material and flask are covered with an air-tight sheet and the evacuating means of the flask is actuated while that of the surface plate is released so that the sheet and coating film adhere to the upper and low surfaces respectively of the mould material by suction. The pattern and surface plate are then separated from the flask and a solution containing caking agent dissolved in the solvent is applied to the coating film which is adhered to the surface of a cavity formed at the lower surface of the mould material.