Impatiens balsamina L.
Aliases：Jinfenghua (Golden Phoenix Flower)、Zhijiahua (Nail Dye Flower)、Jixingzi (Garden Balsam Seed)、Xiaotaohong (Small Peach Red)、Hao Nver Hua (Good Daughter Flower)、Jubi (Chrysanthemum Maid)
Fengxianhua (Garden Balsam Flower), a Chinese medicinal, is the dried flower of Impatiens balsamina L., a plant of the Balsaminaceae family (genus Impatiens).
Efficacy & Actions
Dispel wind and eliminate dampness, activate blood and relieve pain, resolve toxin and kill parasites.
Indications
Flower: Dispels wind and eliminates dampness, activates blood and relieves pain, resolves toxin and kills parasites. Indicated for rheumatic arthralgia, hypochondriac and lumbar pain, amenorrhea with abdominal pain, postpartum retained lochia, traumatic injury, carbuncles and sores, snake venom poisoning, tinea manus (palmoplantar tinea), onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), etc. Whole herb: Dispels wind and eliminates dampness, reduces swelling and relieves pain. Indicated for rheumatic pain, traumatic injury, swelling and pain due to blood stasis, amenorrhea in women, carbuncles and toxic swellings, snake and insect bites. Seed (Jixingzi – Garden Balsam Seed): Breaks blood and softens hardness, resolves accumulation. Indicated for abdominal masses, amenorrhea, dysphagia (esophageal obstruction), etc. Its medicinal action is strong and it is relatively toxic; must be used under the guidance of a physician.
Modern Pharmacology
Antibacterial and antifungal: Significantly inhibits dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum, commonly used for onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) and tinea manus. Its decoction is effective against various bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi. Anti‑inflammatory and analgesic: Exhibits swelling‑reducing and pain‑relieving effects. Selective COX‑2 inhibition: Inhibits a key enzyme in the inflammatory response, demonstrating marked anti‑inflammatory activity. Anti‑allergic: May help alleviate allergic symptoms. Promoting transdermal absorption: Its components can assist other drugs in penetrating the skin, enhancing the efficacy of topical medications.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: Kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, etc. Anthocyanins: Cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, malvidin, etc. Quinones: Lawsone, methoxyquinone, etc. – core components responsible for antifungal and anti‑inflammatory effects. Coumarins: Various coumarin compounds. Other components: Sugars, sterols, peptides, proteins, etc.
Usage & Dosage
1. Internal use: 1.5–3 g in decoction (3–9 g for fresh herb); or ground into powder; or steeped in wine. 2. External use: Fresh herb crushed and applied topically; or decocted for washing.
Contraindications
1. Contraindicated during pregnancy: Due to its blood‑activating effect, it may cause miscarriage. 2. Use with caution in cases of blood deficiency without blood stasis: Not suitable for those without manifestations of blood stasis pattern. 3. Use with caution in debilitated (weak constitution) individuals. 4. Overdose and long‑term use are prohibited: The medicinal action is strong; it should be
Selected Formulas
1. For dragging pain in the lumbar and hypochondriac regions, intolerable pain (Compendium of Materia Medica) Crush Fengxianhua into a cake, dry in the sun, then grind into a fine powder. Take 9 g (three qian) each time on an empty stomach with wine. 2. For lumbar and hypochondriac sprain pain (Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 9 g of Fengxianhua, grind into a fine powder. Take 1.5 g each time with white wine (baijiu), twice a day. 3. For amenorrhea with abdominal pain and postpartum retained lochia (Shandong Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 3–6 g of Fengxianhua, decoct in water and take orally. 4. For swelling and pain due to traumatic injury (Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take fresh Fengxianhua, crush into a paste, and apply topically to the swollen and painful area. Replace when dry. Continue until the blood stasis is resolved and the swelling and pain subside. 5. For carbuncles, boils and sores (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take equal amounts of Fengxianhua and Hibiscus mutabilis leaf (Mufurongye), grind into a fine powder, mix with vinegar to form a paste, and apply to the affected area. 6. For whooping cough, hematemesis, and hemoptysis (Mindong Chinese Materia Medica) Take 7–15 fresh Fengxianhua flowers, decoct in water and take orally. Alternatively, stew with a small amount of rock sugar for better effect. 7. For onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) First, scrape off a thin layer of the nail surface with a knife. Then crush fresh Fengxianhua into a paste and apply it onto the nail. Wrap with gauze. Change the dressing 2–3 times a day. 8. For snake venom poisoning (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine Selection) Take 120–150 g of fresh Fengxianhua, crush and squeeze out the fresh juice for oral administration. Apply the residue topically around the wound.
Daily Consumption
Fengxianhua (commonly known as “touch‑me‑not” or “garden balsam”) contains trace amounts of toxic components throughout the whole plant. It is not recommended for internal use as a daily food ingredient. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is mainly used externally or, for specific conditions, taken internally under strict dosage control.
Medicinal Parts
dried flower (or whole herb)
Selection & Storage
Short‑term storage of fresh product: Wrap fresh Fengxianhua (flowers, stems, and leaves) in a damp cloth or newspaper, place in a fresh‑keeping bag, and store in the refrigerator (0–5°C). Can be kept for 2–3 days. Use as soon as possible to avoid mold and decay. Long‑term storage of dried product: Clean the Fengxianhua, then dry in the shade or at low temperature (40–50°C). When completely dry, seal in an airtight container (e.g., plastic bag or glass jar). Store in a cool, dry, dark place, protected from moisture and insects. Can be stored for 6–12 months.