Platycodon root (Platycodon grandiflorus)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Table of Contents

Other names for platycodon root

Balloon Flower Root
Jie Geng (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Chinese Bellflower

Synopsis of platycodon root

Platycodon root, derived from Platycodon grandiflorus, is commonly known as balloon flower root due to the plant’s distinctive balloon-shaped buds. Native to East Asia—including China, Korea, and Japan—it has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is called Jie Geng (桔梗). The root is the medicinally active part of the plant and contains saponins (notably platycodin D), polysaccharides, and flavonoids that contribute to its therapeutic actions.

Platycodon root is best known for its respiratory benefits, particularly in clearing phlegm, relieving coughs, and opening the lungs. It is categorized in TCM as an "ascending herb," meaning it helps direct the effects of a formula upward, often used to guide other herbs to the upper body or to the lungs. Its expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties make it useful in cases of bronchitis, laryngitis, sore throat, and upper respiratory congestion.

Modern pharmacological studies support its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and antimicrobial actions. Platycodin saponins have shown potential in reducing airway inflammation, protecting lung tissue, and even exhibiting anti-cancer properties in experimental settings. It’s used in both standalone formulas and as a harmonizing herb to enhance the effectiveness of other botanicals in multi-herb respiratory blends.

Historical Use in Medicine:
Platycodon root has been used for over 2,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with its first mention in classic medical texts like the Shennong Ben Cao Jing. Traditionally, it is used to "open up the lungs," clear pus, and relieve sore throat and hoarseness. It was commonly prescribed for productive coughs, chest congestion, and tonsillitis, often paired with licorice root (Gan Cao) or other harmonizing herbs to enhance its soothing and clearing effects.

In Korean traditional medicine, platycodon root (called doraji) is similarly revered and is still widely used in teas, syrups, and soups to maintain lung and throat health. Korean folk medicine also includes its use in improving voice clarity and treating chronic respiratory weakness.

Japanese Kampo medicine incorporates Platycodon grandiflorus in several formulas focused on chest tightness, hoarseness, and cough with thick phlegm. In all traditions, it was valued not only for acute infections but also for long-term recovery from respiratory illness or vocal strain.

Platycodon root is used for these health conditions

Adenitis (Traditional)
Allergies (respiratory) (Traditional)
Appetite (deficient) (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Scientific)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Cough (damp) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Scientific)
Glands (swollen lymph) (Traditional)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen) (Traditional)
Pneumonia (Traditional)
Sinus Infection (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Ulcers (Traditional)

platycodon root is used to support these body systems

Bronchials (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Tonsils (Traditional)