Stemona Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Stemona Root, known in Chinese as 百部 (Bǎibù) and scientifically as Radix Stemonae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Stemona Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Stemona Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Stemona Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Stemona Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Stemona Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Sou Yao, Bai Tiao Gen, Shan Bai Gen, and Yao Shi Yao. It is the tuberous root of plants from the family Stemonaceae: Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq. (upright Stemona), Stemonajaponica (Bl.) Miq. (climbing Stemona), or Stemona tuberosa Lour. (opposite-leaved Stemona). It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, and Henan provinces. The tubers are harvested after the aerial parts wither in winter or before sprouting in spring. The tubers are dug up, cleaned of fine roots and soil, briefly boiled in boiling water until just cooked through, then removed and dried in the sun or by baking.

[Properties] Taste: sweet and bitter; nature: slightly warm. Enters the Lung meridian.

[Actions] Moistens the lungs, descends Qi, stops cough, and kills parasites.

[Applications] 1. Used for both acute and chronic cough with difficult expectoration, and pertussis. For cough and sputum retention due to wind-cold invading the lungs with slight chills, it is often combined with Platycodon (Jie Geng), Licorice (Gan Cao), and Cynanchum (Bai Qian), as in the formula Zhike San. For persistent cough that does not resolve, Radix Stemonae can be decocted alone in a concentrated form. If accompanied by Qi and Yin deficiency, it should be combined with Astragalus (Huang Qi), Glehnia (Sha Shen), and Ophiopogon (Mai Dong). For Yin-deficiency pulmonary tuberculosis cough, combine with Glehnia, Ophiopogon, and Fritillaria (Chuan Bei Mu). For pediatric pertussis, it can be combined with Glehnia, Fritillaria, Aster (Zi Wan), and Cynanchum and decocted.

2. Used as an anthelmintic for hookworm, pinworm, trichomonas vaginitis, and scabies. For hookworm disease, fresh Radix Stemonae is decocted with sugar and taken orally; for pinworm, Radix Stemonae is the main herb combined with Melia bark (Ku Lian Pi) and black plum (Wu Mei) decoction, administered as a retention enema before sleep; for trichomonas vaginitis, Radix Stemonae decoction is used alone to wash the vagina; for scabies itching, Radix Stemonae soaked in alcohol is applied externally.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g. External use: appropriate amount for washing; or powdered for external application; or soaked in alcohol for topical use. For chronic cough with deficiency, honey-fried preparation is recommended.

[Cautions] Not suitable for use alone in cases of heat-type cough.

[Modern Research] 1. Chemical constituents: Upright Stemona root contains stemoninine, stemonidine, isostemoninine, tuberostemonine, hoedoline, and stemonine; climbing Stemona root contains stemonine, stemonidine, isostemoninine, stemoninine, stemonamine, huastemonine, stemonajaponine, and isostemonajaponine; opposite-leaved Stemona contains stemonine, oppositine, iso-oppositine, secondary oppositine, oxidized oppositine, and stethinine.

2. Pharmacological effects: Radix Stemonae has theophylline-like effects, with expectorant, antitussive, and bronchodilator actions; its ethanol extract inhibits various bacteria and skin fungi; decoctions reduce the pathogenicity of Asian influenza A virus; aqueous and alcoholic extracts kill body and pubic lice.

3. Clinical reports: (1) Chronic bronchitis: 20 g Radix Stemonae decocted to 60 ml, 20 ml per dose, three times daily for 10 days per course, three courses total; 110 cases treated with an overall effective rate of 87.27%. [Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986, 7(10):439] (2) Pertussis: 50 g Radix Stemonae, 20 g apricot kernel and Platycodon each, decocted to 350 ml, with 60 g sugar dissolved; taken three times daily, dose adjusted by age from 2 to 15 ml per dose; 140 cases treated with 132 cured, 6 improved, 2 ineffective; average course 6 days. [Henan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1982, (5):15] (3) Pinworm: 30 g fresh Radix Stemonae soaked in 150 ml 55% alcohol for 3 days; liquid applied with cotton ball to perianal folds once nightly for 7 days per course; over 100 cases treated, cured after 3 courses. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986, 27(1):24]