This product is the whole herb with fruit of the annual herbaceous plant Impatiens balsamina (Impatiens baslamina L.) of the Balsaminaceae family. It is distributed throughout the north and south of China, mostly cultivated artificially. The best quality is characterized by brown-red stems, absence of leaves, dryness, and no impurities. The above-ground part is harvested during the vigorous growth of the plant in summer and autumn, with leaves and flowers removed, washed, and dried.

The morphological description of the original plant of this product first appeared in Jiuhuang Bencao, named "garden balsam". Bencao Zheng states: "(Impatiens balsamina) is good at penetrating bones and relieving stuffy orifices, hence also known as garden balsam." Bencao Gangmu Shiyi mentions: "Impatiens balsamina, also known as garden balsam, is named so for its property of softening hardness." It also records under the garden balsam entry: "Wang Lianshi's 'Herbal Collection': garden balsam resembles the shape of a horsewhip and is highly effective in softening hardness. The juice extracted can dissolve Tortoise Carapace into water... According to this, the white-flowered Impatiens is also called Tougu Bai, dispersing wind and qi; the Carthamus type is called Tougu Hong, breaking blood stasis and causing early abortion, also bearing the name of Tougu, but they are not the same." It is evident that Impatiens balsamina was used as garden balsam in ancient times. Since ancient garden balsam sources were not limited to one type, today Impatiens balsamina of the Balsaminaceae family is referred to as "Fengxian garden balsam," with its stem used medicinally. Currently, in Jiangsu and surrounding areas, the white Impatiens balsamina is used as the medicinal source for this product, with other colors not used, which is consistent with the records in Bencao Gangmu Shiyi.

Balsam: An annual herb, 40-100 cm tall. Stem fleshy, erect, stout. Leaves alternate; petiole about 1-3 cm long, with several glands on both sides; leaf blade lanceolate, 4-12 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, apex long acuminate, base gradually narrowing, margin sharply serrate, lateral veins 5-9 pairs. Pedicel short, solitary or several clustered in leaf axils, densely pubescent; flowers large, usually pink or variegated, single or double; sepals 2, broadly ovate, sparsely pubescent; standard petal round, apex notched, with a small mucro, midrib on the back with a Fossil Bone protrusion; wing petals broad, with a short stalk, 2-lobed, basal lobe nearly round, upper lobe broadly axe-shaped, apex 2-lobed; lip boat-shaped, sparsely pubescent, base abruptly elongated into a slender, inwardly curved spur; anthers blunt. Flowering period from June to August, forming a spindle-shaped capsule, densely hairy, splitting upon touch when ripe. Seeds numerous, spherical, black.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and acrid, warm.

1. Bencao Yuanshi: "sweet, nontoxic."
2. Chinese Materia Medica: "acrid, warm."

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, removing toxins, and relieving pain.

bubble_chart Indications

Wind-dampness arthralgia, traumatic swelling and pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abscess, erysipelas, goose-web wind (tinea manuum), snake and insect bites.

1. Combined with Aconite Lateral Root, it is particularly effective in treating chronic diseases and obstinate impediment.
2. Combined with Atractylodes Rhizome, it treats wind-dampness arthralgia, with one excelling in drying dampness and the other in relieving pain. The two herbs reinforce each other, greatly enhancing the effect of eliminating dampness to relieve pain.
3. Combined with Common Clubmoss Herb, it treats liver and kidney deficiency, malnutrition of tendons and bones, difficulty in flexion and extension, numbness of limbs, and muscle spasms, with the effect of stretching tendons and penetrating bones.
4. Combined with suberect spatholobus stem, it nourishes the liver and kidneys, dredges collaterals, and relieves pain, making it most suitable for chronic arthralgia due to deficiency.
5. Combined with densefruit pittany root-bark, it treats eczema and heat sores (herpes simplex).
6. Combined with mulberry twig, it dispels wind to relieve pain and is most effective for migratory impediment.
7. Combined with Chinese Clematis Root, it is remarkably effective in treating wind, cold, and fixed arthralgia.
8. It can be used to treat wind-dampness arthralgia, whether new or chronic, and can be combined with Acanthopanax Bark, Honeysuckle Stem, Knotty Pine Wood, and Chinese Clematis Root.
9. For traumatic injuries, stagnant pain, or amenorrhea in women, it can be combined with Chinese Angelica, Peach Kernel, and Shiny Bugleweed.
10. The fresh herb or flowers of Impatiens balsamina can be mashed and applied externally to treat boils, insect bites, tinea manuum, onychomycosis, and paronychia.
11. The petals, when mashed with some alum, can be used to dye nails.

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For internal use: decoct 3-9g in water for a decoction; or use fresh product to extract juice. For external use: apply an appropriate amount of fresh product as a poultice; or decoct in water for fumigation and washing.

bubble_chart Processing and Storage

Wash, dry, and chop for use.