Stellaria media vs Stillingia sebifera

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Stellaria media

Skin and Topical

Skin and Topical

Stellaria media

✅ Generally safe in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Stillingia sebifera

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

Common garden weed with cooling anti-inflammatory properties; widely used for skin conditions and as food.

Chinese tree whose seed coating provides vegetable tallow; used in TCM for skin diseases and cough.

Active Compounds

saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, vitamin C, minerals

stillingia factor, flavonoids, fatty acids, tannins, resins

Traditional Uses

eczema, psoriasis, itching, cough, constipation

skin diseases, cough, constipation, liver, edema

Modern Uses

topical anti-inflammatory, skin soothing, nutritive food

topical antimicrobial, expectorant, laxative, anti-inflammatory

Adult Dosage

5-10g fresh herb or 2-3g dried tea 3x/day

Topical application or 3-9g decoction

Contraindications

known allergy

pregnancy, internal large doses

Side Effects

mild GI upset in large quantities

GI irritation, topical skin irritation

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E