HomeTraditional Chinese Medicine HerbsBalloonflower Root

Balloonflower Root

Name

Balloonflower Root

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Platycodonis Radix

Chinese Name

桔梗

Category

Roots and rhizomes

Balloonflower RootMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in northern and northeastern China.

Macroscopic Features

Long round or long fusiform, slightly twisted, lower portion occasionally has branches, 6~20cm long, 1~2cm diameter. Externally pale yellowish-white or pale yellowish-brown (without peeling off cortex), wrinkled, with twisted longitudinal grooves and horizontal lenticel-like spotted scars, upper portion has horizontal wrinkles; apex has “neck”(rhizome), 0.5~4cm long, with indented half-moon stem scars shaped like nodes. Firm texture, horizontally cut surface is pale yellow, horn-like, brown cambium, cortex has few radial cracks, xylem is relatively tight. faint odor, tastes slightly sweet then bitter. Pieces: irregular round thick pieces, externally white or pale yellowish-white, with one pale brown ring, surrounding is pale yellowish-white, with wrinkles. faint odor, tastes slightly sweet then bitter. Honey-processed jie geng: shaped like unprocessed jie geng; externally pale yellow to pale brownish-yellow, moist and slightly smells of honey; taste is sweet then bitter.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has fat and large strips, firm body, white external color.

Properties

Bitter, acrid; neutral

Functions

Diffuses the lung, eliminates phlegm, promotes throat, expels pus, promotes five internal organs, supplements five qi, supplements five taxations, nourishes qi. Apply to cough excessive phlegm, swelling pharyngalgia, pulmonary abscess and pyemesis, chest fullness and hypochondrium pain, diarrhea with pain, mouth and tongue sore, red eye and swelling pain, retention of urine.

Technical Terms

'Golden well with jade fence (jin jing yu lan)’: This refers to the pattern seen on the cut surface of the root and rhizome. The xylum is pale-yellow (‘golden well’) while the outer layer (‘phleom’) is yellowish-white (‘jade fence’), combined and called golden well with jade fence. ‘Neck (lu tou)’: this refers to a node-shaped short rhizome present at the apex of some root medicinal. ‘Stem scars (lu wan)’: this refers to the numerous circular or semi-circular concave scars of withered stems that can be seen on the ‘neck’; they are shaped like small bowls.

Origin

The dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.(Campanulaceae)

Balloonflower RootHerbs in the formula

Agastache Qi-Correcting Powder

Action：Releases the exterior and removes dampness, rectifies qi and harmonizes the center.

Indication：Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is indicated for the contraction of exogenous wind-cold and internal damage by internal dampness. The symptoms include aversion to co1d with fever, headache, chest and diaphragm distension and depression, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bowel sounds and diarrhea. The tongue has a white, greasy tongue coating. It can also be used to treat conditions that are contracted from the clouds and mists in the mountains, malaria, etc.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Lonicera and Forsythia Powder

Action：Vents the exterior with acrid-cool, clears heat, and resolves toxin.

Indication：Yin Qiao San is indicated for the early stage of a warm disease. The symptoms are fever, slight aversion to cold, absent or inhibited sweating, headache, thirst, cough, and sore throat. The tip of the tongue is red with a thin, yellow coating, and the pulse is superficial and rapid.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Universal Relief Toxin-Removing Beverage

Action：Clears heat, resolves toxins, scatters wind, and disperses swelling.

Indication：This formula is indicated for swollen-head infection (also referred to as massive head scourge). The symptoms are redness, swelling, and pain in the head and face, failure to open the eyes, red, swollen, and sore throat, aversion to cold with fever, thirst, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a forceful rapid pulse.

View Details Heat-clearing formulas

Toxin-Resolving Powder

Action：Dissipates cold, removes dampness, boosts qi, and releases the exterior.

Indication：Bai Du San is indicated for the pattern of externally contracted wind-cold-dampness. The symptoms are strong aversion to cold, high fever, headache, neck stiffness and pain, body soreness and pain, absence of sweating, stuffy nose, harsh voice, cough with phlegm, pi, and distressed chest and diaphragm. The tongue is pale with a white coating, and the pulse is superficial and forceless upon pressing.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Ginseng and Perilla Beverage

Action：Boosts qi, releases the exterior, rectifies qi, and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：This formula is indicated for a pattern of qi deficiency with contraction of external wind-cold, complicated by interior phlegm-dampness. Signs and symptoms include aversion to cold, fever, absence of sweat, headache, stuffy nose, cough, white phlegm, distended and suppressed chest and abdomen, fatigue, lassitude, short of breath, dislike of speaking, a white tongue coating, and a weak pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder

Action：Boosts qi and fortifies the spleen, drains dampness and arrests diarrhea.

Indication：Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is indicated for patterns of spleen deficiency with excessive dampness accumulation marked by epigastric bloating or stuffiness, borborygmus, diarrhea, lack of strength in the four limbs, thin body, and lusterless yellow facial complexion. The tongue is pale with a white, greasy coating and the pulse is moderate and deficient.

View Details Tonic formulas

Bupleurum and Pueraria Muscle-Resolving Decoction

Action：Releases the flesh and clears heat.

Indication：Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang is indicated for externally contracted wind-cold that has become constrained and transforms into a heat pattern. The signs and symptoms include gradually reducing aversion to cold and increasing body heat, absence of sweat, headache, eye pain, dryness of the nose, vexation, insomnia, dry throat, impaired hearing, orbit pain, a thin yellow tongue coating, and a superficial, slightly surging pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage

Action：Dissipates wind and clears heat, ventilates the lung, and stops coughing.

Indication：Sang Ju Yin is indicated for the initial stage of a wind-warmth pattern. Coughing is the major symptom along with a low-grade fever, slight thirst, and a superficial rapid pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Fritillary Bulb and Snakegourd Fruit Powder

Action：Moistens the lung and clears heat, rectifies qi, and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Bei Mu Gua Lou San is intended for patients with coughing due to dryness-phlegm. The symptoms are cough, phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, and a dry throat. The tongue coating is white and dry.

View Details Phlegm-expelling formulas

Apricot Kernel and Perilla Powder

Action：Relieves cool-dryness by light diffusion, regulates lung function, and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Xing Su San is indicated for patterns of externally-contracted cool-dryness. The symptoms are aversion to cold, mild headache, coughing with scanty sputum, stuffy nose, and a dry throat. The tongue coating is white, and the pulse is wiry.

View Details Dryness-moistening formulas

Blood Stasis-Expelling Decoction

Action：Invigorates blood, dissolves stasis, and moves qi to relieve pain.

Indication：Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is indicated for blood stasis in the chest. Symptoms include chest pain, headache, and chronic stabbing pain at a fixed location, continual hiccups or choking when drinking water, nausea, internal heat, dizziness, severe palpitations, insomnia, dreaminess, impatience, irascibility, tidal fever at night, dark lips or eyes, a dark red tongue with ecchymosis or purple spots, and a choppy or wiry, tight pulse.

View Details Blood-regulating formulas

Lily Bulb Metal-Securing Decoction

Action：Enriches and nourishes the lung and kidney, relieves cough and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Bai He Gu Jin Tang is indicated for a pattern of lung-kidney yin deficiency with deficiency fire flaming upward. The symptoms are coughing, labored breathing, blood in the sputum, dry and sore throat, dizziness and blurred vision, afternoon tidal fever. The tongue is red with scanty coating, and the pulse is thready and rapid.

View Details Dryness-moistening formulas

Solomon's Seal Variant Decoction

Action：Nourishes yin and releases the exterior.

Indication：Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang is indicated for the pattern of yin deficient with external contraction of wind-heat. The signs and symptoms are headache, fever, slight aversion to wind-cold, absence of or a little bit of sweat, cough, vexation, thirst, dry throat, a red tongue, and a rapid pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Cough-Stopping Powder

Action：Diffuses and benefits the lung qi, disperses wind and relieves cough.

Indication：Zhi Sou San is indicated for the pattern of wind pathogens attacking the lung. The symptoms are cough, itchiness in the pharynx, difficulty in coughing up sputum, or mild aversion to wind and fever. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is superficial and moderate.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Celestial Emperor Heart-Supplementing Elixir

Action：Enriches yin and clears heat, nourishes blood and calms the mind.

Indication：Deficiency of yin and insufficiency of blood have lead to the disturbance of the mind. Symptoms include palpitations, vexation, insomnia, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, nocturnal emission, feverish feeling in palms and soles, aphtha, a sore mouth and tongue, and dry stool. The tongue is red with scanty coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid.

View Details Sedative and tranquilizing formulas

Nine Immortals Powder

Action：Astringes the lung, relieves cough, boosts qi and nourishes yin.

Indication：Jiu Xian San is designed for a pattern of chronic cough caused by lung deficiency. The main symptoms include a chronic, unremitting cough that may be accompanied by labored breathing in severe cases, spontaneous sweating, scanty, sticky phlegm, and a deficient, rapid pulse.

View Details Astringent formulas