Evidence supporting the use of: Balloon Flower
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), known as Jie Geng in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long history of use for treating respiratory conditions, especially coughs associated with "dampness" (a TCM term describing phlegm or excess mucus). Traditional sources state that Balloon Flower acts to open and disseminate Lung Qi, expel phlegm, and benefit the throat. In classic TCM texts, it is commonly included in formulations targeting coughs with phlegm and is believed to direct the effects of other herbs upward to the lungs and throat. While there is some preliminary pharmacological research indicating that compounds in Balloon Flower (such as saponins) may exhibit expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antitussive properties, robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. Most of the support for its use is therefore rooted in traditional practice and historical documentation rather than modern scientific validation. Animal and in vitro studies offer some support for its expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects, but do not directly confirm efficacy for "cough (damp)" in humans. Thus, its rating reflects strong traditional support, moderate preclinical evidence, and a lack of high-quality clinical trials.
Other ingredients used for Cough (damp)
aloe verablack currant
black pepper
radish
chen pi
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
green tea
licorice root
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rhizome
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
hyssop
atractylodes
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
fritillaria
coltsfoot
eucalyptus
horehound
Anamarrhena
Asarum heterotropoides
Asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bael
Butternut
Balloon Flower
Cineole
Common madia
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dichrostachys glomerata
Galangal
Ivy
Other health conditions supported by Balloon Flower
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Allergies (respiratory)
Asthma
Bronchitis
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Fever
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Inflammation
Influenza
Laryngitis
Nausea and Vomiting
Sore Throat
Wheezing
Wounds and Sores