Bala
Botanical name – Sida cordifolia
Family name –Malvaceae
English name – Country mallow
Common name – Bala
Habitat – Sida cordifolia grows as a wasteland weed throughout India in tropical and sub tropical situations especially in damp climates. It is a pan tropical species and hence found in both the hemispheres in similar situations.It grows along road sides, waste lands and found everywhere in tropical and subtropical regions.
Habit – Perennial shrub.
Useful Parts: Root, bark, leaves, flowers and seeds.
Common Uses: Bala is used for weight loss, to increase energy, for impotence, sinus, allergy, throat disease, asthma, bronchitis and to promote a strong skeletal system. The plant is tonic, astringent, emollient, aphrodisiac and useful in treatment of disorders of respiratory system. It is also rejuvenative, nutritive and stimulant to the heart. Externally bala oil is used for massage in muscular weakness and other nervous disorders. Stem is used as a demulcent, emollient, febrifuge, diuretic and in skin disorders. Bark is considered as cooling. It is useful in disorders of blood, throat and urinary system, piles and insanity. Leaves are analgesic, aphrodisiac; demulcent, diuretic, nervine tonic, rejuvenative, stimulant and tonic. Roots are regarded as cooling, astringent, stomachic and tonic, aromatic, bitter, diuretic and are used in rheumatism, leucorrhoea, inflammation and liver diseases. The seeds as considered as aphrodisiac.
Products description – It is a key ingredient in many products like Kshirabala oil, Bala Ashwagandha oil, Sandhivatayog, Swasyog, Rasayanaprash, Vajikaran tea, etc.