Stringy Stonecrop Herb — Classic Formulas
Chui Pen Cao · Herba Sedi Sarmentosi
Primary Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves toxicity — hepatitis, jaundice, carbuncles, burns, snake bite, and throat abscess
- Reduces liver enzymes — specifically used in TCM clinical practice for elevated ALT/AST in viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, and alcohol hepatitis
- Promotes urination — urinary tract infection, hematuria, and dysuria from Damp-Heat
- Cools Blood and reduces swelling — external use for burns, scalds, and infected wounds
Classic Formulas
- Dan Bi Fang (单比方) — single-herb concentrated decoction of Chui Pen Cao (30–60 g dried or 60–120 g fresh) for acute viral hepatitis with elevated transaminases; widely used in modern Chinese hepatology as a standardised preparation (e.g., Chuipen tablets/granules in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
- Combined with Yin Chen Hao (茵陈蒿) and Zhi Zi (栀子) in formulas for Damp-Heat jaundice with fever and markedly elevated liver enzymes
Classical Text References
- Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (本草纲目拾遗): records Chui Pen Cao for resolving fire toxins, treating burns, throat swellings, and snake bite — 'applied fresh to burns, it immediately cools and stops pain; taken internally, it clears liver heat'
- Zhong Yao Zhi (中药志): documents modern clinical use of Chui Pen Cao specifically for lowering serum transaminases in viral hepatitis — one of the earliest Chinese references to the hepatoprotective application; the official Chuipen preparation is a standardised extract listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020