Garden balsam

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, US, Haiti, Turkey, Central America, Philippines, Brazil, Hawaii

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Antidote, Bactericide, Cancer(Digestive), Cancer(Esophagus)

Science studied: BALSAMINONE-A, BALSAMINONE-B, 2-METHOXY-1,4-NAPTHOQUINONE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Balsaminaceae

Scientific name: Impatiens balsamina

Common names: Garden balsam, /, Balsam, Balsamina, Balsamina asiática, Balsamina coltivata, Balsamine, Balsamine (DE), Balsemien, Balzam xınagülü, Balzamino, Beijo-de-frade, Beso de novia, Bóng nước (thực vật), Espuela de gallo, Garden Balsam (EN)

POWO: 373978-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, China, US, Haiti, Turkey, Central America, Philippines, Brazil and 1 additional place.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Antidote
• Bactericide
• Cancer(Digestive)
• Cancer(Esophagus)
• Cyanogenetic
• Diuretic
• Dysmenorrhea
• Dysphagia

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• China
• US
• Haiti
• Turkey
• Central America
• Philippines
• Brazil
• Hawaii

Documented cultural uses

• Antidote
• Bactericide
• Cancer(Digestive)
• Cancer(Esophagus)
• Cyanogenetic
• Diuretic
• Dysmenorrhea
• Dysphagia
• Emetic
• Eye
• Inflammation
• Laxative

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Antidote · Elsewhere · "
• Bactericide · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer(Digestive) · China · "
• Cancer(Esophagus) · China · "
• Cyanogenetic · US · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Dysmenorrhea · Haiti · "
• Dysphagia · China · "
• Emetic · Turkey · "
• Eye · Central America · "
• Inflammation · Central America · "
• Laxative · Turkey · "
• Lumbago · Philippines · "
• Polyp(Uterus) · Brazil · "
• Resolvent · Turkey · "
• Sore · Hawaii · "
• Stasis · Elsewhere · "
• Vulnerary · Turkey · "
• Caries · China · "
• Circulation · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Fish-Bones · China · "
• Fungicide · Elsewhere · "
• Astringent · Turkey · "

5 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Antioxidant Activities and Lipid Accumulation-Inhibitory Effects of Seed and Callus Extracts of <i>Impatiens balsamina</i> L. · 2026 source ↗
• Evaluation of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of peptide Impatiens balsamina-M1 and Zinc oxide nanoparticles against Helicobacter pylori. · 2025 source ↗
• A chromosome level genome, as well as transcriptomes and metabolomes, insights into genome evolution and the biosynthesis of kaempferol and kaempferol derivatives in <i>Impatiens balsamina</i> (Balsaminaceae). · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BALSAMINONE-A
• BALSAMINONE-B
• 2-METHOXY-1,4-NAPTHOQUINONE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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