Herb Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Chui pen cao

Stringy stonecrop herb · 垂盆草

Sedum sarmentosum Bunge · Herba Sedi Sarmentosi

Also known as: Sedi Herba, Gold moss stonecrop, Graveyard moss,

Chui pen cao (Stringy stonecrop herb) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Chuí Pén Cǎo is a cooling herb best known for supporting liver health. It is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine for hepatitis and jaundice, where it helps reduce liver inflammation and relieve symptoms like yellow skin, dark urine, and poor appetite. It also has a long folk tradition as a remedy for skin infections, boils, and venomous bites when applied topically.

Category Heat-clearing and damp-draining herbs (清热利湿药) Herbs that clear Heat and resolve Toxicity (清热解毒药)
Therapeutic focus Liver Health Detoxification Skin Health Digestive Health

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels entered

Liver, Gallbladder, Small Intestine

Parts used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

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Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Chui pen cao does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Chui pen cao is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Liver Health Detoxification Skin Health Digestive Health

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Chui pen cao performs to restore balance in the body:

Clears Heat and Drains Dampness Clears Damp-Heat and Resolves Jaundice Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity Disperses Swelling and Dissipates Abscesses Counteracts Snake and Insect Venom

How these actions work

'Clears Heat and resolves Dampness' means this herb helps the body eliminate excess Heat and Dampness, particularly from the Liver and Gallbladder. When Damp-Heat accumulates in these organs, it can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, and poor appetite. Chuí Pén Cǎo's cool nature and bland taste work together to drain pathological Dampness out through the urine while simultaneously cooling the Heat. This is why it has become one of the most widely used herbs for liver-protective treatment in modern Chinese medicine.

'Clears Heat and resolves toxins' refers to this herb's ability to counteract inflammatory, infected, or poisonous conditions that TCM groups under 'Heat toxins.' This covers problems ranging from skin abscesses and boils to sore throats and oral ulcers. The fresh herb is especially valued for external application: crushed and applied directly to the affected area, it can reduce swelling and ease inflammation. Historically, it has been one of the most trusted folk remedies for venomous snakebite, used both internally as expressed juice and externally as a poultice.

'Promotes the resolution of jaundice' describes its specific ability to help the body clear the yellow discoloration caused by Damp-Heat obstructing bile flow. This action makes it particularly important in modern practice for treating various forms of hepatitis, where it has demonstrated a notable ability to reduce elevated liver enzymes (ALT/AST) and relieve associated symptoms like bitter taste, poor appetite, and dark yellow urine.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Chui pen cao is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Chui pen cao addresses this pattern

Chuí Pén Cǎo directly targets Damp-Heat lodged in the Liver and Gallbladder, the core pathomechanism of this pattern. Its cool thermal nature clears Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels (its primary channel affinities), while its sweet and bland taste promotes the drainage of Dampness through urination. Together, these properties address the root cause of Damp-Heat jaundice. The herb's specific tropism for the Liver and Gallbladder makes it particularly well-suited for this pattern, as it clears the Heat that disrupts bile flow and drains the Dampness that causes it to overflow into the skin and tissues.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of skin and eyes from Damp-Heat obstructing bile flow

Dark Urine

Dark yellow or brownish urine reflecting Heat and Dampness draining downward

Bitter Taste In The Mouth

Bitter taste in the mouth from Gallbladder Heat rising

Poor Appetite

Loss of appetite due to Dampness obstructing the middle burner

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Chui pen cao is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder

TCM Interpretation

TCM understands hepatitis primarily as an invasion of Damp-Heat into the Liver and Gallbladder. External pathogenic Dampness and Heat can enter the body through the environment, diet, or epidemic toxins, and lodge in the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems. When this happens, bile flow is obstructed, leading to jaundice, and the Liver's function of ensuring the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body becomes impaired. This produces the characteristic symptoms: flanking pain under the ribs, bitter taste, poor appetite, fatigue, dark urine, and in many cases yellow skin and eyes. In chronic or lingering cases, Damp-Heat can injure the Liver's Yin and Blood, leading to a more complex pattern with both excess and deficiency.

Why Chui pen cao Helps

Chuí Pén Cǎo is one of the most important single herbs used for hepatitis in modern Chinese medicine. Its cool nature directly clears Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels, while its bland taste drains Dampness through the urine, addressing both halves of the Damp-Heat pathomechanism simultaneously. Modern research confirms it can significantly reduce elevated serum transaminase (ALT/AST) levels and relieve Damp-Heat symptoms like bitter taste, poor appetite, and dark urine. Pharmaceutical granules made from this herb have been in clinical use since the 1970s. It can be used as a single herb or combined with Yīn Chén (Artemisia capillaris) and other Damp-Heat clearing herbs for enhanced effect.

Also commonly used for

Fatty Liver

Used in granule form to improve symptoms and liver function markers

Cirrhosis

Supportive treatment, often combined with other herbs

Skin Burns

Minor burns and scalds treated with fresh herb juice applied topically

Mouth Ulcers

Oral ulcers and throat swelling from Heat toxins

Eczema

Damp-Heat type eczema and dermatitis

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Topical and internal use for shingles lesions driven by Damp-Heat

Urinary Tract Infection

Heat and dampness in the urinary tract causing painful, dark urination

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels Entered

Liver Gallbladder Small Intestine

Parts Used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Chui pen cao — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

15–30g

Maximum dosage

Fresh herb: up to 50–100g in decoction (or as fresh-pressed juice) for acute conditions, under practitioner supervision.

Dosage notes

Fresh herb is considered more effective than the dried form and is traditionally preferred when available, especially for external application (crushed and applied topically for burns, snake bites, and abscesses). For internal decoction, 15–30g of dried herb is standard. For fresh herb, 50–100g may be used in decoction or the juice can be pressed from approximately 250g of fresh material and taken directly. Lower doses (15g) are suitable for mild Damp-Heat conditions and maintenance support. Higher doses (30g dried or up to 100g fresh) are used for acute hepatitis, active liver inflammation, or venomous snake bites.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. The dried herb is simply added to the decoction pot and cooked normally. When using fresh herb, it may be crushed to extract the juice for direct oral intake or topical application, which is considered more potent than the dried decoction form.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Chui pen cao for enhanced therapeutic effect

Yin Chen
Yin Chen Yīn Chén Hāo 15–30g : Chuí Pén Cǎo 15–30g

Yīn Chén Hāo is the supreme jaundice-resolving herb, while Chuí Pén Cǎo adds hepatoprotective and enzyme-lowering effects. Together they powerfully clear Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder, with Yīn Chén focusing on bile drainage and Chuí Pén Cǎo adding direct liver cell protection.

When to use: Damp-Heat jaundice with elevated liver enzymes, acute or chronic hepatitis with yellow skin and dark urine.

Di
Di Er Cao 1:1 (typically 12–15g each)

Dì Ěr Cǎo (Hypericum japonicum) and Chuí Pén Cǎo both enter the Liver and Gallbladder channels and both clear Damp-Heat and resolve jaundice. Used together, their effects are mutually reinforced, providing stronger hepatoprotective and enzyme-lowering action than either herb alone.

When to use: Viral hepatitis (acute or chronic active phase), elevated transaminases, Damp-Heat jaundice. Part of the 'three herbs for liver disease' combination used by national master physician Lǐ Diàn Guì.

Long Dan Cao
Long Dan Cao Chuí Pén Cǎo 12–15g : Lóng Dǎn Cǎo 3–6g (Lóng Dǎn Cǎo at lower doses due to its bitter-cold potency)

Lóng Dǎn Cǎo is bitter and cold, powerfully draining Liver-Gallbladder Fire and drying Dampness. Combined with Chuí Pén Cǎo's gentler sweet-bland approach, the pair addresses both the Fire and Dampness aspects of Liver-Gallbladder Damp-Heat more thoroughly.

When to use: Hepatitis with pronounced Heat signs: marked bitter taste, red tongue with yellow greasy coating, irritability, and rib-side pain. Part of the classical 'three grasses' liver combination.

Ban Zhi Lian
Ban Zhi Lian 1:1 (typically 15–30g each)

Bàn Zhī Lián (Scutellaria barbata) is a powerful Heat-toxin clearing and anti-tumor herb. Combined with Chuí Pén Cǎo, the pair provides enhanced toxin-resolving and inflammation-clearing effects, with both herbs also showing anticancer activity in research.

When to use: Toxic abscesses, venomous snakebites, and as part of anti-tumor support protocols for liver cancer and other malignancies.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Yin Chen
Chui pen cao vs Yin Chen

Both are premier jaundice-resolving herbs that clear Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder. Yīn Chén Hāo is bitter and slightly cold with a longer classical pedigree (key ingredient in Yīn Chén Hāo Tāng from the Shāng Hán Lùn), making it the broader and more established jaundice herb that can treat both yang and yin jaundice types (with appropriate combinations). Chuí Pén Cǎo is sweet and bland rather than bitter, making it gentler on the Stomach. Its modern clinical strength lies specifically in hepatoprotection and reducing elevated liver enzymes (ALT), and it is mainly suited for Damp-Heat (yang) type jaundice. In practice, the two are often combined rather than substituted.

Di
Chui pen cao vs Di Er Cao

Both are whole-plant herbs that clear Damp-Heat, resolve jaundice, and detoxify. Dì Ěr Cǎo (Tián Jī Huáng) is bitter and neutral-to-cool, and additionally has blood-invigorating and swelling-reducing properties that Chuí Pén Cǎo lacks. Chuí Pén Cǎo has stronger modern evidence for directly lowering liver transaminases. They are frequently used together for liver disease rather than as direct substitutes.

Ji Xue Cao
Chui pen cao vs Ji Xue Cao

Both are Damp-Heat clearing herbs that enter the Liver and Gallbladder channels and are used for hepatitis and jaundice. Jī Gǔ Cǎo has a stronger action on resolving Damp-Heat accumulation in the Gallbladder and is especially valued in Southern Chinese practice for gallbladder conditions and gallstones. Chuí Pén Cǎo is more specifically hepatoprotective with better documentation for reducing elevated liver enzymes.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Chui pen cao

The most common source of confusion is with Fo Jia Cao (佛甲草, Sedum lineare), a closely related Sedum species with very similar appearance. Both are succulent groundcovers in the Crassulaceae family with whorled leaves and yellow flowers. They share many folk names, and some regional names like 'Gou Ya Ban Zhi Lian' (狗牙半枝莲) and 'Shi Zhi Jia' (石指甲) are used interchangeably in some areas. Fo Jia Cao has narrower, more linear leaves compared to the oblanceolate leaves of Chui Pen Cao, and a different chemical profile. Additionally, the name Ban Zhi Lian (半枝莲, Scutellaria barbata) from the Lamiaceae family is a completely different herb that should not be confused with Chui Pen Cao, despite the shared folk alias 鼠牙半枝莲. Scutellaria barbata has opposite leaves, purple flowers, and square stems typical of mints.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Chui pen cao

Non-toxic

Classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides (primarily sarmentosin) and small amounts of alkaloids (such as dl-methylisopelletierine and dihydroisopelletierine). At standard therapeutic doses, no significant toxic side effects have been reported in clinical use. Animal studies using sarmentosin-containing extracts for liver protection have not shown notable toxicity. However, as with all herbs containing cyanogenic glycosides, excessively large doses should be avoided. Some patients may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort.

Contraindications

Situations where Chui pen cao should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold (脾胃虚寒): This herb is cool in nature and its functions of clearing Heat and draining Dampness can further damage a weak, cold digestive system, worsening symptoms like loose stools, poor appetite, and abdominal cold pain.

Caution

Prolonged use without monitoring: Clinical observations indicate that after discontinuation, liver transaminase levels (ALT) may rebound in some patients. Extended use should be guided by a practitioner with periodic liver function monitoring.

Caution

Cold-type patterns without Heat signs: Because this herb is cool and drains Dampness, it is not appropriate for jaundice or other conditions caused by cold-Dampness (寒湿) rather than Damp-Heat.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

No specific prohibitions during pregnancy are recorded in classical or modern Chinese materia medica references for this herb. However, as it is cool in nature and has Dampness-draining properties, caution is advisable. There are no dedicated safety studies on its use during pregnancy. Pregnant women should use this herb only under professional guidance.

Breastfeeding

No specific data exists regarding the transfer of Chui Pen Cao's constituents (such as sarmentosin or its alkaloids) into breast milk. Given the absence of safety data, breastfeeding mothers should use this herb with caution and only under practitioner guidance. At standard doses for short durations, significant risk is considered low, but monitoring for any digestive upset in the nursing infant is advisable.

Children

No specific pediatric dosage guidelines are established in standard references. When prescribed for children by a qualified practitioner, dosage should be reduced proportionally based on age and body weight (commonly one-third to one-half of the adult dose for school-age children). The cool nature of this herb may be harsh on the immature digestive systems of young children, so short-course use with monitoring for digestive upset is advisable.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Chui pen cao

No well-documented pharmaceutical drug interactions have been established for Chui Pen Cao in peer-reviewed literature. However, based on its known pharmacological properties, the following theoretical considerations apply:

  • Hepatically metabolized drugs: Because this herb is widely used for liver conditions and has demonstrated effects on liver enzyme pathways (including FXR activation and bile acid metabolism), it may theoretically alter the metabolism or clearance of drugs processed by the liver. Patients on medications with narrow therapeutic windows should inform their prescribing physician.
  • Anticoagulants/antiplatelets: Some Sedum species contain flavonoids with mild blood-moving properties. Although no specific interaction reports exist, caution is reasonable when combining with warfarin or similar medications.

These are theoretical considerations, not confirmed interactions. Always consult a healthcare provider before combining herbal medicines with pharmaceutical drugs.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Chui pen cao

When taking Chui Pen Cao for liver and Damp-Heat conditions, it is advisable to avoid greasy, fried, and heavily spiced foods, as well as alcohol, which can worsen liver Damp-Heat. Because the herb is cool in nature, those with weak digestion should also moderate intake of raw, cold foods and iced drinks to avoid further burdening the Spleen and Stomach. Light, easily digestible meals are recommended.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Chui pen cao source plant

Sedum sarmentosum Bunge (Crassulaceae) is a succulent perennial groundcover forming low mats typically 10–25 cm tall. The stems are slender and creeping, rooting readily at nodes where they contact the ground. The fleshy, bright yellow-green leaves are arranged in distinctive whorls of three, each leaf being small (1.5–2.8 cm long, 3–7 mm wide), oblanceolate to oblong in shape, with a pointed tip.

In late spring and early summer (May–July), it produces terminal cyme inflorescences bearing small, star-shaped yellow flowers with five petals. The fruit is a follicle containing numerous tiny ovoid seeds with papilla-like surface projections. The plant thrives in sunny to partially shaded locations on hillsides, rocky crevices, roadsides, and stream banks below 1,600 m elevation, preferring moist but well-drained sandy or loamy soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and cold-hardy, surviving temperatures as low as -40°C in dormancy.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Chui pen cao is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Summer to autumn (夏、秋二季), when the above-ground parts are lush. The whole herb is collected, cleaned of debris, and either used fresh or dried.

Primary growing regions

Chui Pen Cao grows wild across much of China and is not strongly associated with a single 'terroir' region. It is widely distributed in Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces. Commercial supply commonly comes from Shaanxi (particularly the Shangluo/Shangzhou area), as well as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Hubei. It also grows natively in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Most material is still harvested from wild populations rather than dedicated cultivation.

Quality indicators

Good quality dried Chui Pen Cao should have slender, brownish-green stems (4-8 cm long, 1-2 mm diameter) that are relatively tough or slightly brittle, with a pale yellow center visible at the cross-section. The stems should show 10 or more slightly raised brownish ring-like nodes, sometimes with fine adventitious roots still attached. Leaves should be intact rather than broken off (though they are fragile and commonly fragment during drying). Complete leaves are oblanceolate, brownish-green, approximately 1.5 cm long. The herb should have a faint, subtle smell and a slightly bitter taste. Fresh herb (preferred for stronger therapeutic effect) should be vibrant green with plump, succulent leaves. Avoid material that is excessively dark, moldy, or consists mostly of bare stems with all leaves lost.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Chui pen cao and its therapeutic uses

《本草纲目拾遗》 (Bencao Gangmu Shiyi)

Original: 垂盆草，性寒，消痈肿，治湿郁水肿。

Translation: "Chui Pen Cao is cold in nature, disperses abscesses and swellings, and treats Dampness-stagnation edema."

《百草镜》 (Baicao Jing), as cited in《本草纲目拾遗》

Original: 二月发苗，其叶三瓣一聚，层积蔓生，花后即枯，四月开花，黄色如瓦松。

Translation: "Sprouts appear in the second month. Its leaves cluster in threes, layering and spreading as a vine. It withers after flowering. It blooms in the fourth month with yellow flowers resembling Wa Song (Orostachys)."

《四川中药志》 (Sichuan Zhongyao Zhi)

Original: 治喉头红肿，消痈肿。

Translation: "Treats redness and swelling of the throat, and disperses abscesses and swellings."

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Chui pen cao's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Chui Pen Cao has a relatively short documented history in the classical materia medica compared to many other Chinese herbs. It does not appear in the earliest foundational texts like the Shennong Bencao Jing. Its earliest known classical reference is in the Qing dynasty work Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (本草纲目拾遗, "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica") by Zhao Xuemin, which cited the Baicao Jing for a botanical description of the plant. For centuries, it was primarily a folk remedy used locally to treat sores, abscesses, and venomous snake bites, and was not commonly stocked in herbal pharmacies.

The herb's modern prominence began in the 1970s when Chinese researchers discovered its remarkable ability to lower elevated serum transaminases (ALT/AST), key markers of liver damage. This finding transformed a little-known folk remedy into one of the most widely used herbs for hepatitis treatment in China. It was included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1977 edition onwards), and several proprietary medicines based on Chui Pen Cao were developed for liver diseases. The herb also bears the folk name 鼠牙半枝莲 ("mouse-tooth half-branch lotus") because of its small, tooth-shaped leaves, though this name risks confusion with the Lamiaceae herb Ban Zhi Lian (Scutellaria barbata), so the name "Chui Pen Cao" (literally "drooping-pot herb") became the standard designation to avoid mix-ups.

Modern Research

5 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Chui pen cao

1

Comprehensive Review: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of Sedum sarmentosum (2025)

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2025, Vol. 78, Issue 2, rgaf107

A comprehensive review found that 174 chemical constituents have been identified from this herb, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and glycosides. The review confirmed diverse bioactivities including liver-protective, kidney-protective, anti-tumor, and antioxidant effects. Terpenoid components were particularly associated with its hepatoprotective actions. Ten proprietary Chinese medicines primarily based on this herb have been developed for liver disease treatment.

PubMed
2

Hepatoprotective effects via Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways (Preclinical, 2019)

Food & Function, 2019, Vol. 10, Issue 2, pp. 1024-1035

This animal study investigated the less-polar extract of Sedum sarmentosum against chemically induced liver injury in rats. The extract significantly reduced liver damage markers (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin) and increased bile flow. The compound delta-amyrone was identified as a key active component, protecting liver cells by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway and suppressing NF-κB inflammatory signaling.

PubMed
3

Hepatoprotective effects on D-GalN/LPS-induced fulminant hepatic failure (Preclinical, 2011)

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011, Vol. 137, Issue 3, pp. 1530-1536

Sarmentosin-containing extracts of Sedum sarmentosum were tested in a mouse model of acute liver failure. Pretreatment markedly protected mice from lethal liver injury by blocking the sharp rise in TNF-alpha and liver enzymes (ALT, AST). The extract also reduced hepatocyte apoptosis, suppressed TLR4 expression, and inhibited inflammatory signaling cascades (JNK, ERK, p38).

PubMed
4

Anti-cholestatic effects via FXR-mediated signaling (Preclinical, 2022)

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2023, Vol. 302, 115870

This study found that the ethyl acetate extract of Sedum sarmentosum effectively relieved chemically induced cholestasis (bile flow obstruction) in rats. It significantly lowered liver damage markers and toxic bile acid levels. The mechanism involved activation of the FXR (farnesoid X receptor) pathway, which regulates bile acid metabolism. Multiple active compounds including nor-sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids were isolated.

PubMed
5

Total flavonoids alleviate schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis (Preclinical, 2020)

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020, Article ID 5345708

Sedum sarmentosum total flavonoids (SSTF) were tested in rats with schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis. The results demonstrated that SSTF alleviated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-beta1/Smad7 signaling pathway, a key pathway driving scar tissue formation in the liver.

PubMed

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.