Can Sedum sarmentosum remove phlegm?

Whether Sedum sarmentosum (also known as "垂盆草") can help remove phlegm depends on the nature of the phlegm and the individual's physical condition. Sedum sarmentosum may assist in expelling phlegm in cases of excessive lung heat with yellow and thick phlegm, but it is not suitable for individuals with internally accumulated cold phlegm or cold body constitution. The analysis is as follows:

When the body exhibits symptoms of excessive lung heat, characterized by frequent coughing, yellow and viscous phlegm, accompanied by dry mouth, sore throat, and fever, the heat-clearing properties of Sedum sarmentosum can play a role. Its active ingredients can help alleviate the accumulation of heat in the lungs, promote the thinning and expulsion of phlegm, and thereby relieve coughing and phlegm to a certain extent, providing auxiliary phlegm removal for cough caused by lung heat.

Individuals with a cold body constitution and internally accumulated cold phlegm often present symptoms such as heavy coughing, clear and thin white phlegm, and may also experience cold intolerance and cold limbs. Sedum sarmentosum is cool in nature, and taking it will not only fail to improve symptoms in these individuals but may also aggravate internal coldness, leading to increased cold phlegm and worsening cough and phlegm. Those with a constitution of deficiency cold often have insufficient yang energy and relatively weak spleen and stomach function. Taking Sedum sarmentosum may damage the yang energy of the spleen and stomach, impair digestive and absorptive functions, and further weaken the body, making it unsuitable to use Sedum sarmentosum for phlegm removal.

When using Sedum sarmentosum as an adjunct for phlegm removal, it is essential to accurately determine the cold or heat nature of one's symptoms to avoid adverse effects caused by blind medication.