Can I take Sedum sarmentosum for lower back pain?

Generally speaking, if back pain is caused by damp-heat, Sedum sarmentosum (垂盆草) may be taken; however, if the back pain is due to other causes, it should not be used. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek timely medical consultation and treatment at a qualified hospital. Detailed explanation is as follows:

Sedum sarmentosum enters the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine meridians. Due to its function of clearing heat and eliminating dampness, it has certain therapeutic value in treating low back pain associated with urinary tract infections caused by damp-heat accumulation. When patients present typical symptoms of urinary tract infection such as frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination, and are diagnosed by TCM diagnostic methods as having a syndrome type of damp-heat, Sedum sarmentosum can effectively relieve low back pain caused by damp-heat blocking the meridians through clearing damp-heat from the lower jiao.

For low back pain not caused by damp-heat syndrome, the use of Sedum sarmentosum must be approached with caution. For structural conditions such as lumbar muscle strain, lumbar disc herniation, and functional causes such as kidney deficiency, Sedum sarmentosum is unlikely to achieve the expected therapeutic effect. These conditions have fundamentally different pathogenic mechanisms compared to damp-heat syndrome. Moreover, due to its bland and cold nature, improper use of Sedum sarmentosum may damage the body's yang qi due to its cold properties, further aggravating the obstruction of qi and blood circulation in the腰部 (lumbar meridians), thereby worsening the condition.

In daily life management, maintaining proper sitting and standing postures can help reduce abnormal stress on the lumbar muscles; avoid maintaining the same posture for prolonged periods and perform regular lumbar exercises and relaxation activities.