Yellow Balsam

Overview

Impatiens noli-tangere is a plant in the Balsaminaceae family that is considered native only to the English Lake District and mid-Wales. This species is believed by the community to have good benefits for health, which is used by the community in traditional medicine. In traditional Romanian medicine this plant is known as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic and wound healing.

Vernacular Names

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Agroecology

Yellow balsam or Impatiens noli-tangere is a terophyte, which usually grows on moist to wet soil, sometimes waterlogged, generally found growing in damp forests, riverbanks, rivers, lakes, fertile swamps and springs. This species grows well in heavy clay, medium loam and sandy soils. Prefers moist, well-drained soil in a cool location. Prefers a position in a semi-shaded area (light forest) or no shade.

Morphology

• Stems - clear yellow or green in color often covered with red, slightly branched on top, swollen joints, watery, brittle. Stem up to 2 cm in diameter, becomes hollow with age.
• Leaves - alternating, leaf blades oval or elliptical-ovate, thin, with blunt to acute leaf tips, mucronate, leaf base pointed to subcordate, leaf margins toothed sparsely (7-16 teeth on each side), lateral veins 5-8 pairs. Long leaf stalks.
• Flowers - irregular (zygomorphic), large, yellow, red spots. The crown (petals) are 5 in number, yellow with faint red spots, the bottom 4 are fused in pairs. Petals (sepals) are 3 in number, the bottom is like a pouch, the color is the same as the petals, the spurs are gradually narrowed, usually curved downwards or forwards. Stamens numbered 5, anthers fused. The inflorescence bends under the subtending bract, 2-4 bunches bloom.
• Fruits - capsule with 5 sections that open when ready and disperse, fruit contains 1–9 seeds.
• Seeds - obovoid–obpyriform, 4 angle across, 3.3–4.6 mm long, 1.4–2.2 mm wide, 0.8–1.5 mm thick.

Cultivation

• Plant propagation is done through seeds.
• The cold stratification period can help increase the germination rate.

Chemical Constituents

Organic acids, anthraquinones, flavonoids (isoquercitrin and rutin), phenolic acids, tannins.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• Treat gastritis and dysmenorrhea, rheumatism, edema, bruises, warts, hemorrhoids, lower back pain, wounds, eczema and itching (urticaria).
• Acts as an emetic, diuretic, laxative, hemostatic, antiseptic, antibacterial, emmenagogue, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitussive.