Nature: slightly bitter, cold

Enters: Lung, Heart

Actions: Tonifies Lung and Heart Qi; moistens the Lungs, generates body fluids; dispels phlegm; clears heat and toxins; reduces inflammation; benefits cardiovascular system.

Indications:
• Often used to treat chronic disorders with underlying deficiency, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, migraines, neuralgia, impaired function of respiratory and digestive system.
• Heat toxins: swelling, inflammation, pain. Gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, hyperlipidemia, nodules, cystitis, herpes zoster, and other conditions with a damp-heat-toxin pattern.
• For ulcers, with Bai hua she she cao, Hai piao xiao, Bei mu. 
• External: mix the powder with water to form a paste for treatment of hyperpigmentation (e.g., liver spots)
• Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Coronary sclerosis: with Yu jin, Dan shen, Shi chang pu, or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang. 
• High cholesterol: with Jue ming zi, Shan zha, Da huang. Appears to lower total cholesterol and triglycerides, and to raise HDL.
• May cause mild GI discomfort when taken on empty stomach
• Possible side effects: fatigue, dizziness, chest congestion, mild fever, sweating, sore throat, rash, increased heart and respiration rate.
• May cause drowsiness / sedation. Appears to have sedative, analgesic, hypnotic effects.
• Has immune stimulating properties
• Anti-cancer effects: inhibits various forms of cancer
• Anti-aging effects: prolongs life expectancy in lab animals
• Appears to support weight loss
• Contemporary use is most often for diabetes, hypertension, obesity.
• May improve insulin resistance, appears to improve blood sugar for Type 2 diabetes
• Potential benefit in Parkinson’s and dementia
• One of many good studies on this herb: Progress in the Medicinal Value, Bioactive Compounds, and Pharmacological Activities of Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Dose: 5-12 grams in decoction or 0.75-1 gram directly as powder

Thank you to Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology by John and Tina Chen for the majority of this information. This herb does not appear in most TCM materia medicas.