Whole herbsDampness-drainingSedi Herba

Chui Pen Cao (Stringy Stonecrop Herb)

垂盆草 · Chui Pen Cao

Dampness-draining herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Drains dampness and reduces jaundice, clears heat and resolves toxin.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Sedi Herba
Chinese Name & Pinyin	垂盆草 · Chui Pen Cao
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs
Efficacy Category	Dampness-draining
Botanical Origin	The dried whole herb of Sedum sarmentosum Bge.(Crassulaceae).
Nature & Flavour	Sweet, Bland; Cool
Channels Entered	Liver, Gallbladder, Small Intestine

What Is Chui Pen Cao?

Chui Pen Cao (Stringy Stonecrop Herb) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet, Bland; Cool
Channels Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Small Intestine

Chui Pen Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Sedi Herba

Botanical Origin

The dried whole herb of Sedum sarmentosum Bge.(Crassulaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has intact stems and leaves, and the leaves hav a yellowish-green color.

Macroscopic Features

Stem is very thin, and reaches a length of over 20cm; on some joints fibrous adventitious roots can be seen. 3 leaves grow in a whorl, leaves have an oblanceolate to oblong shape; green, fleshy, 1.5~2.8cm long, 0.3~0.7cm wide; the tip is extremely pointed and the base is extremely narrow, with distance separating the two ends. faint odor; slightly bitter taste.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet, Bland; CoolLiverGallbladderSmall Intestine

Traditional Functions

Drains dampness and reduces jaundice, clears heat and resolves toxin.

How Chui Pen Cao Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Chui Pen Cao is classified among the Dampness-draining herbs.

Classical Formulas Containing Chui Pen Cao

Classic Formula 1: Chui Pen Cao He Ji (Stringy Stonecrop Mixture)

Combination logic: In this formula, Chui Pen Cao is the lord — mainly exerting the damp-heat-clearing, toxin-resolving, and swelling-reducing actions; paired with Yin Chen and Zhi Zi to strengthen the liver-gallbladder damp-heat clearing, with Gan Cao added to harmonize the herbs and prevent the overly bitter-cold from harming the stomach. The formula mainly solves the jaundice and scanty dark urine of damp-heat internal accumulation. Chui Pen Cao alone cannot be used — a single herb's force is limited and cannot attend to the multi-sided damp-heat regulation.

Traditional use: traditionally for the damp-heat jaundice, unsmooth urination, and carbuncle sores — a classic formula for clearing damp-heat.

Modern note: in modern clinical use, this formula is used for the regulation of some damp-heat-related body states — but it requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care; do not self-apply just because the formula name or efficacy relates to a certain disease.

Classic Formula 2: She Shang Jie Du Pian (Snake-Injury Toxin-Resolving Tablet)

Combination logic: In this formula, Chui Pen Cao is the minister, working with the toxin-resolving herbs Ban Bian Lian and Jin Yin Hua to strengthen the toxin-resolving and swelling-reducing action — mainly for the local swelling regulation after snake or insect encounters. The formula needs the synergy of many toxin-resolving herbs — Chui Pen Cao alone cannot reach a sufficient toxin-resolving effect.

Traditional use: traditionally for the local swellings of heat toxin after snake and insect encounters, and for carbuncle sores.

Modern note: in modern clinical use, this formula is used as an auxiliary regulation after snake or insect encounters — but only under a doctor's guidance; do not use it on your own for such encounters, to avoid delaying the treatment.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is the whole of many herbs working together; a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect. The doses and combinations in a formula are holistic — the pairing of different herbs attends to multiple problems at the same time. Do not build formulas from online articles — if a herb works in a formula, taking it alone does not produce the same effect, because without the synergy of the other herbs, the action is limited.

Chui Pen Cao

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chuipencao? Is it the same as Yinchen or Jinqiancao?

Chuipencao is the dried whole plant of Sedum sarmentosum, Latin name Sedi Herba. It is a common Chinese medicine centered on draining dampness and clearing jaundice, and clearing heat and detoxifying. Yinchen drains dampness and clears jaundice. Jinqiancao drains dampness and promotes urination. They cannot be used interchangeably in equal amounts. Prescribe as Chuipencao. Caution in spleen deficiency diarrhea.

What are the composition and effects of Chuipencao?

Pharmacopoeial name Chuipencao, Latin Sedum sarmentosum Bunge. Sweet and bland in taste, cool in nature, enters the Liver, Gallbladder and Small Intestine meridians. Functions to drain dampness and clear jaundice, and clear heat and detoxify. Used for damp-heat jaundice, inhibited urination, and abscesses and sores. Drains dampness and clears jaundice.

How to choose between raw and processed? Can Yinchen replace it?

Whole plant is used raw. Yinchen emphasizes jaundice rather than strongly detoxifying, and cannot replace it in equal amounts. Commercial products are standardized; do not adjust arbitrarily.

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Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Chui Pen Cao.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.