Evidence supporting the use of: Balloon Flower
For the health condition: Cough (spastic)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) root has a long history of use in traditional East Asian medicine, particularly within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Korean herbal medicine, for the treatment of coughs, including spastic (or convulsive) cough. In TCM, Balloon Flower root (known as Jie Geng) is believed to "open up the lungs," resolve phlegm, and relieve sore throat and cough. It is frequently included in formulas designed for respiratory conditions characterized by productive cough, chest congestion, or throat discomfort.
The evidence supporting these traditional uses is primarily based on historical records, herbal texts, and centuries of empirical observation rather than modern clinical trials. Some laboratory studies have investigated the anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antitussive (cough-suppressing) properties of Balloon Flower root extracts, but high-quality human clinical trials are lacking. The majority of support for its use in cough comes from its established place in traditional medical practice rather than from robust scientific validation.
Therefore, while there is a tradition of using Balloon Flower for cough (including spastic cough), the scientific evidence is limited to preclinical studies and anecdotal clinical use. Further research is needed to conclusively establish its efficacy and safety for this indication.
Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)
aloe veraalpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
pear
platycodon root
plum fruit
pomegranate
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
prickly ash
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
juniper berries
dodder
sweet flag
eucalyptus
abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
acacia
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bayleaf
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Cnidium
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cistus
Cubeb
Cowslip
Calamus
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Ephedrine
Galangal
Ivy
Poppy
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