Sidacordifolia is perennial herb that grows 30mts in height. Leaves of this plant are oblong or ovate and are 2.5-7cm long and 2.5-5cm broad with 6-7 veins. Its leaves are serrate, truncate and heart-shaped. Plant bears small, solitary, axillary and white or yellow colored flowers. Both roots and stems of the plant are stout and strong. Roots are bitter in taste, odorless and grayish yellow in color. Tap roots are generally branched at the tip. Fruits are moong sized, disc-shaped and velvety in upper half about 6-8mm in diameter. Seeds are smooth and grayish black in color and are called bajibanda in Ayurveda. Flowering season of plant is August to December and fruits appear from October to January.
Bala and country mallow are common names of Sidacordifolia. Entire plant of Bala is used to prepare medicine in ayurvedic medicine system. According to Ayurveda it is used to pacify all three body energies i.e. vata, pitta and kapha but is most effective for vatadosha. Bala is much known for its shukrala properties and it is used to increase the shukradhatu. It is used to improve both quality and quantity of sperm count. In Ayurveda this herb is used as CNS depressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and hypoglycemic agent. It is best rasayan and nervine tonic for various vata disorders. Bala is best blood purifier and best used for piles and raktapitta. It also boosts fetal growth. Cooked leaves are used to cure bleeding piles.
Major chemical compounds available in this plant are ephedrine, sterculic acid, malvalic and coronaric acid, pseudoephedrine, fatty acid, saponine, hypaphorine, ecdysterone, indole alkaloids, palmitic acid, stearic acid and ole-beta-sitosterol. Sida contains both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine both the chemical compounds are used to stimulate central nervous system.
Sidacordifolia is commonly known as bala, it is a common weed that grows along wastelands and roadsides and is native to India. Bala is found throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of India and Sri Lanka. It is considered as invasive weed in Africa, Australia, Hawaiian island, Southern United States and New Guinea.
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
||
Rasa |
Madhura |
Taste |
Sweet |
Guna |
Laghu, Snigdha, Pichila |
Physical Property |
Light, Unctuousness, Sticky |
Virya |
Sheeta |
Potency |
Cold |
Vipaka |
Madhura |
Metabolic Property (After Digestion) |
Sweet |
It balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta &Kapha).
CharakSamhita |
SushrutSamhita |
· Prajasthapan- Group of herbs promoting fetal health. · Brihamneeya - Herbs used for strengthening and nourishment of body. · Balya - Herb used in the strengthening of body. · Madhurskanda - Group of herb with sweet taste. |
· Vatashasmana - Group of herb to balance vatadosha. |
The Bhavprakashnighantu Twenty Eighth edition of 2010: verse 142-144, page no-381.
REFERENCES
The Bhavprakashnighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C.Chunekar, edited by Late Dr. G.S.Pandey: Twenty Eighth edition of 2010: gudchayadivarga; verse 142-143, page no-381.
SIDA CORDIFOLIA CONTAINS EPHEDRINE AND EXCESSIVE USE OF THESE HERB CAUSES:-