Sedum sarmentosum, Chui Pen Cao 垂盆草

Hanging Stonecrop, Stringy Stonecrop, Gold Moss Stonecrop, Graveyard Moss
Chui Pen Cao, Shi Zhi Jia (TCM)
Picture Sedum sarmentosum (upper right)
Bois, D., Atlas des plantes de jardins et d’appartements (1891-1896)

Picture Sedum sarmentosum (Photo by bastus917, Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Sedum sarmentosum
As in the West, a number of related Sedum species are known and used similarly in TCM.
This includes: S. kamtschaticum, S. makinoi

Parts used:


Whole Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Slightly Sweet and Sour

Classification:


B. Clear Heat, Resist Poison

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Disperses Swellings:
-red, swollen and painful Abscesses, Boils, Toxic Sores
-acute swollen and painful Sore Throat
-Mastitis
-Snakebite, Insect Bites
-Burns and Scalds

2. Clears Heat and Damp from the Liver:
-Jaundice
-Hepatitis (acute or chronic)
-proven Hepato-protective effect

3. Externally:
-Bites and Stings, crush the herb and apply topically
-Burns and Scalds, apply as a paste
-applied to Mastitis, Boils, Abscesses


Dose:


Decoction: 15–30 grams (45–90 grams fresh)
Juice: 30–120 grams of the fresh plant is beaten and expressed and the juice taken (for Snakebite, Stings and for Burns)

Comment:


1. In general it is similar to Sempervium (Houseleek) of which Sedum is close related. They may be synonymous in effect as a number of Sedum spp. were known and used in the West, all noted for their cooling quality for Heat and Inflammations.

Main Combinations:


1. Abscesses, Boils, Toxic Sores, Sedum sarmentosum, Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Violet (Zi Hua Di Ding)
2. Jaundice from Damp-Heat obstructing the Liver, Sedum sarmentosum with Artemisia scoparia Yin Chen Hao, Lysmachia Jin Qian Cao.

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


1. Only for Cold-type Toxic sores or Damp-Cold Jaundice
2. Large doses can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Main Preparations used:


Expressed Juice