What is Sedum Sarmentosum?
Sedum Sarmentosum (chui pen cao, 垂盆草), also known as Stringy Stonecrop Herb or Herba Sedi Sarmentosi, is a perennial succulent that belongs to the Crassulaceae family. These plants thrive in warm, moist and semi-shady environments, and its whole parts are usually harvested during summer and autumn. After the removal of impurities, Sedum Sarmentosum is then dried under the sun and cut into sections for medicinal usage. Today, there are more than 50 kinds of herbal prescriptions that contain this herb.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Sedum Sarmentosum falls under the category of ‘Herbs that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity’. Such herbs are used to clear inflammatory and infectious conditions that are referred to as ‘Internal Heat’ in TCM. Most of these herbs usually possess both antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Cold in nature, Sedum Sarmentosum can help individuals who have too much Heat in their body, such as those experiencing a yin deficiency or a yang excess, to restore a healthy yin-yang balance.
Sweet and slightly sour in taste, Sedum Sarmentosum can slow down acute reactions, detoxify the body, and has a tonic effect on the body by replenishing qi and blood. Also, Sedum Sarmentosum can aid digestion and restrain abnormal discharges of fluids from the body, such as diarrhoea or heavy sweating. In particular, Sedum Sarmentosum targets the Heart, Liver and gallbladder.
Functions and Benefits of Sedum Sarmentosum
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows that Sedum Sarmentosum has the following health benefits.
Sedum Sarmentosum can clear Heat and resolve toxicity. Thus, the herb is often used to reduce sores and abscesses, and to disperse swellings, including those that affect the throat internally or topically. Also, Sedum Sarmentosum can be used to treat snake bites and burns. To enhance its effectiveness in treating carbuncles and sores caused by Heat toxins, Sedum Sarmentosum can be combined with Wild Chrysanthemum Flower (Ye Ju Hua), Viola Yedoensis (Zi Hua Di Ding) and Chinese Lobelia (Ban Bian Lian).
Accompanied by its ability to resolve Dampness, Sedum Sarmentosum is frequently indicated for the treatment of jaundice caused by Damp-Heat. In addition, Sedum Sarmentosum can also relieve symptoms such as difficulty and pain in micturition caused by Damp-Heat and chronic hepatitis. To enhance the herb’s effectiveness in treating jaundice and difficult, painful urination, Sedum Sarmentosum can be combined with Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix (Hu Zhang) and Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (Yin Chen).
By combining Sedum Sarmentosum with Turmeric Tuber (Yu Jin), Radix Isatidis (Ban Lan Gen), Radix Bupleuri (Chai Hu), Coriolus (Yun Zhi) and Fructus Schisandrae (Wu Wei Zi), the herbal mixture can also be used to treat yellow skin and eyes, fatigue, shortness of breath, discomfort in the abdominal liver area, yellow urine and loose stools.
How to Use Sedum Sarmentosum
The recommended daily dosage of Sedum Sarmentosum is 15 – 30g, when used as a decoction. Alternatively, you can use 50 – 100g of the fresh product or pound it into juice. For external application, you may pound the herb into powder to apply on the desired area or decoct it for wet compress.
You may find Sedum Sarmentosum and its supplements, such as pills and powder, in herbal stores and Asian specialty markets.
Cautions and Side Effects of Sedum Sarmentosum
Sedum Sarmentosum should not be used by individuals experiencing deficiency-Cold in the Spleen and stomach. Also, pregnant and breastfeeding ladies, as well as individuals experiencing abscesses of the yin type and jaundice of the yin type should avoid using this herb.
Long-term consumption of Sedum Sarmentosum may cause side effects such as weakness of the Spleen and stomach, stomachache, loss of appetite and mental fatigue.
We strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare provider before deciding to add Sedum Sarmentosum to your healthcare routine!
Here is a summary for Sedum Sarmentosum:
- Herb name (Chinese): 垂盆草
- Herb name (Pin Yin): chuí pén cǎo
- Herb name (English): Stringy Stonecrop Herb
- Herb name (Botanical): Herba Sedi
- Origin of species: Sedum sarmentosum Bunge
- Part(s) of herb used: Whole plant
- Geo-specific habitat(s): Most parts of China
- Taste(s) & Properties: Sweet, bland, slightly sour; Slightly cold; Administrates the Heart, Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians
- Actions: Eases symptoms of jaundice; Relieves inflammatory pain, sore throat and scalded skin
Ma, X., Yang, J., Deng, S., Huang, M., Zheng, S., Xu, S., … & Ai, H. (2017). Two new megastigmanes from Chinese traditional medicinal plant Sedum sarmentosum. Natural product research, 31(13), 1473-1477. [Accessed on 5th August 2023]
Wang, G. W., Zhang, X. L., Wu, Q. H., Jin, Y. B., Ning, C. T., Wang, R., … & Chen, M. (2019). The hepatoprotective effects of Sedum sarmentosum extract and its isolated major constituent through Nrf2 activation and NF-κB inhibition. Phytomedicine, 53, 263-273.[Accessed on 5th August 2023]
Ying-Ying, Y., Xin-Huan, W., Ying-Nan, L., Ling-Yan, G., & Chang-Zheng, Z. (2020). Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Sedum sarmentosum. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi= Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi= China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 45(18), 4341-4348.[Accessed on 5th August 2023]
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