Balloon Flower

Balloon Flower original: Jiegeng (桔梗); botanical name: Platycodon grandiflorus.

The Balloon Flower grows in the valleys of Mount Songgao The Central Sacred Mountain, Mount Song in Henan Province and in Yuanju an ancient area in modern-day Shandong, though today it is found everywhere. The root is about the size of a pinky finger and is yellowish-white in color. In spring, it sprouts seedlings with stems over a foot high. The leaves resemble those of an Apricot tree but are longer; four leaves grow together in an opposite, whorled pattern.

When the leaves are young and tender, they may be boiled and eaten. In summer, the plant blooms with purple-blue flowers that closely resemble those of the Morning Glory original: Qianniuzi (牽牛子). After autumn, it produces seeds. In the eighth lunar month, the roots are harvested, finely sliced, and dried in the sun for use. The leaves are known by the name Yinren meaning "hidden endurance".

There is a distinction to be made regarding the root: those varieties that have a core and those that do not are actually the Ladybell original: Qini (薺苨); Adenophora species. While the Ladybell can also be used to neutralize toxins, the two plants are often confused. The primary difference is that the underside of the Ladybell leaf is glossy and hairless.

The Balloon Flower from Langzhong a city in Sichuan Province has a yellow root that looks much like a Hollyhock root. Its stems are slender and green, and its leaves are small and green, resembling Chrysanthemum leaves. In ancient prescriptions, this variety was also used on its own.

The plant is known by several other names:

• Liru meaning "beneficial to the standard"
• Fangtu meaning "chamber map"
• Baiyao meaning "white medicine"
• Gengcao meaning "stiff herb"

Its flavor is pungent and bitter, its nature is "slightly warm," and it possesses a small amount of toxicity.

It is used to treat:

• Heat in the Upper Burner The upper functional division of the body, including the heart and lungs
• Fright epilepsy and convulsions
• Throat Obstruction original: Houbi (喉痺); severe sore throat or loss of voice
• Sudden distress during pregnancy original: Renshen zhong'e (妊娠中惡); sudden illness or "evil wind" striking during pregnancy
• Aching pain in the heart and abdomen
• Nosebleeds
• Bone-Socket Wind original: Gucao feng (骨槽風); a traditional term for ailments like mandibular osteomyelitis or severe jaw infections
• Tooth swelling and pain