Products
Preparations from the balloon vine are commercially available in the form of ointments, creams, lotions, as sprays, drops and globules, among others. This article refers to the external use as Cardiospermum cream or ointment (e.g., Omida Cardiospermum, Halicar). The ointment has been approved in many countries since 1989.
Stem plant
The balloon vine or balloon plant of the soap tree family (Sapindaceae) is a tropical climbing plant native to Africa and the Americas, among other places. The name refers to the seeds, which bear a heart-shaped spot on the surface (heart seed). In Europe, the plant was introduced in the 1950s by Willmar Schwabe, who brought it to Germany from what was then the Belgian Congo.
Medicinal drug
The leaves, herb and seeds of the plant are used as a medicinal drug. Cardiospermum ointments and creams are made with the mother tincture, an ethanolic extract of the flowering aerial parts of the plant.
Ingredients
Ingredients include tannins, triterpene saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phytosterols.
Effects
The creams and ointments have anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic, and skin conditioning properties.
Fields of application
For the treatment of acute and chronic skin conditions, for example, eczema, urticaria, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (neurodermatitis), sunburn and allergic rashes. As an herbal substitute for topical glucocorticoids.
Dosage
According to the directions for use. The ointments and creams are usually applied thinly about three times a day.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Open or bacterially infected wounds
- Extensive skin lesions, infections and suspected systemic diseases.
Full precautions can be found in the leaflet.
Adverse effects
Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.
