Botanical Index No. 72

Balloon Flower

platycodon grandiflorum

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antiasthmatic, Antibacterial, Anticholinergic, Antihistaminic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antiulcer, Astringent, Carminative, CNS-Depressant, Expectorant, Hemolytic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, Hypotensive, Hypotriglyceridemic, Immunostimulant, Mucogenic, Pancreatonic, Secretagogue, Sedative, Sialagogue, TNF-genic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Hemostat Tranquilizer Vasodilator Vermifuge Abscess Appendicitis Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Bleeding Blood Clot Bronchosis Cancer Carbuncle Cardiopathy Cholera Cold Cough Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dry Mouth Dysentery Dyspepsia Enterosis Escherichia Fever Flu Furuncle Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol High Triglycerides Hoarseness Hyperglycemia Immunodepression Inflammation Insomnia Laryngosis Nausea Nervousness Neurosis Obesity Pain Pertussis Pharyngosis Pleurisy Pneumonia Puerperium Pulmonosis Respirosis Sore Sore Throat Staphylococcus Stomatosis Stress Syndrome-X Tonsilosis Tumor Ulcer Virus Worm

General Dosage

2–9 g; 3–9 g; 0.5 g powdered root per dose, to 6 g/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Contraindicated in hemoptysis and tuberculosis; administer only with caution to patients with peptic ulcer. Canadian law disallows balloon flower as nonmedicinal ingredient in oral use products.“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Depresses CNS; may be synergistic with other sedatives and CNS depressants. Since the herb is hemolytic, should be used orally and not injected. Believed incompatible with Bletilla hyacintha and Gentiana scabra. Decoction Median LD = 24,000 mg/kg orl mouse; MLD platycodin 420 mg/kg orl mouse, 800 mg/kg orl rat, 22.3 mg/kg ipr mouse, 14.1 mg/kg ipr rat.

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