What are the effects and benefits of Impatiens balsamina (garden balsam)?

Dec 27, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yang Ziqi

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, the garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina) is a common ornamental plant that also has certain medicinal value. Its effects and functions include promoting blood circulation to regulate menstruation, dispelling wind to relieve pain, reducing swelling and alleviating pain, as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and beautifying the skin. When using garden balsam, one should follow medical advice to avoid excessive or improper use. Particularly, pregnant women and individuals with weak constitutions should consult a physician before use.

Generally speaking, impatiens are common ornamental plants that also have certain medicinal values. Their functions and effects include promoting blood circulation to regulate menstruation, dispelling wind to relieve pain, reducing swelling and alleviating pain, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and beautifying the complexion. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Promoting Blood Circulation to Regulate Menstruation

Impatiens have a sweet taste and warm nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians, with functions of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and clearing meridians. Clinically, they can be used to alleviate symptoms such as blood stasis with amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to retained blood stasis, and are also applicable for gynecological conditions such as amenorrhea, abdominal pain, incomplete discharge of postpartum retained blood, and fetal death.

2. Dispelling Wind and Relieving Pain

Impatiens have the effect of dispelling wind and removing dampness, helping to relieve invasion of wind pathogens and phlegm-dampness caused by deficiency of vital energy and empty meridians, thus improving symptoms such as numbness, pain, and hemiplegia. They are also effective for rheumatic conditions such as rheumatic pain, joint pain, and lumbago with knee weakness.

3. Reducing Swelling and Alleviating Pain

Impatiens also have the effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain, helping to alleviate bruises, sprains, abscesses, and carbuncles. They are commonly used in treating skin inflammations, eczema, boils, and other dermatological conditions, as well as surgical conditions such as pain and swelling due to blood stasis.

4. Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory

Impatiens have certain inhibitory effects on pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum, making them useful for symptoms caused by heat toxicity, such as mouth ulcers and sore throat, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying.

5. Beautifying the Skin

Impatiens contain various active ingredients with antioxidant properties that can help improve skin condition, reduce wrinkles, and make the skin smoother and more delicate. Additionally, crushed impatiens petals mixed with garlic juice can be used to dye fingernails and provide auxiliary treatment for nail problems such as onychomycosis (gray nail) and paronychia.

When using impatiens, it is important to follow medical advice to avoid excessive or improper use. Particularly, pregnant women and individuals with weak constitutions should consult a physician before use. Moreover, as an ornamental plant, impatiens' flowers and seeds contain certain toxicity and should not be ingested accidentally.

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