Bala (SidaCordifolia) - Properties, Benefits & Dosage

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.

General Description

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.

Classification

• Kingdom - Plantae
• Order - Malvales
• Family - Malvaceae

Habitat

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.

Names

• Latin name - Sidacordifolia
• Common name - Country mallow, Heart-leaf sida
• Sanskrit name - Badiyalaka, Bala, Baladaya
• Bengali name - Berela
• Assamese name - Borsonborial
• Hindi name - Kharinta, Barial
• Kannada name - Chittuharalu, Hettuti-gida
• Malayalam name - Katturam
• Tamil name - Chittamuttie
• Telugu name - Chirubenda, Mailmanikkam
• Marathi name - Bala, Chikana, Tupkaria
• Oriya name - Bajromuli, Bisiripi
• Marathi name - Chikana, Karaiti
• Gujarati name - Janglimethi
• Chinese name - Yuan ye jinwushihua, Ke dong, Xin ye huanghuaren
• French name - Herbe de douzeheyres
• Japanese name - Marubakingojika
• Nepalese name - Balu
• Russian name - SidaKordifolia, SidaSerdtselistania
• Spanish name - EscobaNegra, Escobilla, Llima
• Thai name - Yakhatbaipom

Ayurvedic Properties

Effects On Doshas

It balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta &Kapha).

Ancient Verse About SidaCordifolia

The Bhavprakashnighantu Twenty Eighth edition of 2010: verse 142-144, page no-381.

• It states that sida has four different types; bala, vatvallika, vatya and vatylaka are various names of bala. Mahabala, peetpushpa and sehdevi are synonyms of mahabala. Atibala, rishyaprokta, kantika are synonyms of atibala. Gangeruki, nagbala, jhasha and hrasavedhuka are synonyms of nagabala.
• Second verse states that all four types of bala are cold in potency, sweet in taste and are aphrodisiac, improves skin texture and glow, unctuous and absorbent. It is used to pacify vatadosha, bleeding disorders and to cure wounds.

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.

Practical Uses Of SidaCordifolia

• Bala is anti-inflammatory in nature and it is used to reduce the inflammation of wounds and eyes. Its external application is used to reduce arthritis pain and other joint stiffness. Its external paste is used in ophthalmic disease and wound healing.
• Oil prepared from this herb is very effective for the sufferers of cervical spondylitis, paralysis and facial paralysis.
• Helps in the absorption of both water and nutrients from the intestine and very effective to control the motility of intestine. Due to these properties this herb is very effective in irritable bowel syndrome or grahani.
• It is also used to reduce petechial hemorrhage and is used as cardiac tonic.
• Bala is used to treat both male and female infertility. In males it increases sperm count and used to increase motility of sperms. In Ayurveda this herb is called vrishya i.e. Aphrodisiac. It is used to treat male erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
• It helps to rejuvenate urinary system and this herb act as diuretic and helps to treat cystitis.
• This herb is used to reduce chest congestion and it is very useful for bronchitis, asthma and stomatitis.
• Root infusion of Sidacordifolia is very effective for nervous and urinary system disorders. It is also used for treating blood and bile disorders.
• It is used to pacify all three doshavata, pitta and kapha.

Part Used

• Roots
• Bark
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Seeds

Dosage

• Powder - 3-6gms
• Juice extract - 10-20ml
• Decoction - 50-100ml

Cautions

SIDA CORDIFOLIA CONTAINS EPHEDRINE AND EXCESSIVE USE OF THESE HERB CAUSES:-

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Rise in blood pressure
• Memory loss
• Stroke