What is the best way to consume Sedum sarmentosum (垂盆草)?
Jun 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Sedum sarmentosum (垂盆草) offers various health benefits when combined with different ingredients and medicinal materials. Paired with dandelion (蒲公英) and capillary wormwood (茵陈), it enhances heat-clearing, detoxifying, dampness-resolving, and jaundice-relieving effects. Combined with red dates (红枣), it moderates cold properties and nourishes qi and blood. When prepared with glutinous rice (粳米) to make congee, it becomes easier to digest and benefits the spleen and stomach. Mixed with licorice (甘草), it improves flavor and strengthens the heat-clearing effect. It is important to understand its properties, follow the principle of moderate consumption, and consult a healthcare professional when necessary.
Generally speaking, there is no specific claim regarding what Sedum sarmentosum (垂盆草) should be combined with to achieve the best effects. However, it is considered beneficial to use Sedum sarmentosum together with dandelion, capillary wormwood, red dates, polished rice, and licorice. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Dandelion: Sedum sarmentosum is cool in nature, with a sweet, bland, and slightly sour taste. Dandelion also has a cold nature and a bitter-sweet flavor. When used together, these two herbs can synergistically exert effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and alleviating jaundice. This combination is suitable for improving symptoms such as damp-heat jaundice and abscesses. Its cool and cold properties can also help eliminate internal heat toxins.
2. Capillary Wormwood (Yin Chen): Capillary wormwood is a key herb for promoting diuresis and alleviating jaundice. When combined with Sedum sarmentosum, this pairing significantly enhances the effects of clearing damp-heat and reducing jaundice. It can enhance bile secretion and excretion, providing certain protective effects for the liver. It is suitable for jaundice caused by accumulation of damp-heat in the liver and gallbladder.
3. Red Dates: Sedum sarmentosum clears heat and promotes diuresis, while red dates are warm in nature with a sweet taste, capable of tonifying the middle jiao, invigorating qi, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. When used together, red dates can moderate the cold nature of Sedum sarmentosum, reducing its irritation to the stomach and spleen. At the same time, red dates nourish qi and blood, making this combination suitable for individuals with a weak constitution who also need to regulate damp-heat issues with the help of Sedum sarmentosum.
4. Polished Rice: Polished rice benefits the stomach and spleen and nourishes the five internal organs. When combined with Sedum sarmentosum to prepare porridge, it retains the medicinal value of Sedum sarmentosum while the nourishing effects of rice make the dietary therapy easier for the body to absorb. It also helps protect the stomach and spleen, making it suitable for daily health maintenance.
5. Licorice: Licorice has a sweet taste and neutral nature, with functions of harmonizing various herbs, tonifying the spleen and qi, clearing heat, and detoxifying. When combined with Sedum sarmentosum, licorice can not only harmonize the taste of Sedum sarmentosum but also enhance its heat-clearing and detoxifying effects to a certain extent, while reducing any adverse effects on the stomach and spleen.
For those wishing to use combinations of Sedum sarmentosum with other food items or herbs for health regulation, it is important to understand one's own health condition, be familiar with the properties of the ingredients and herbs, and follow the principle of moderate use. If there are existing medical conditions or health concerns, consultation with a healthcare professional is advised to ensure safe and effective consumption.
