Bala

(Country Mallow)

Department of Dravyaguna
Uttaranchal Medical College of Ayurveda & Research

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Basic Details

• Botanical Name: Sida cordifolia

• Family: Malvaceae

• Synonyms: Bala, Atibala, Mahabala, Khareti, Berela, Jungli Gulkhaira

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Morphological Description

Habit:
A small perennial shrub growing up to 1.5 meters in height.

Stem

• Woody at the base

Leaves

• Simple

• Ovate or heart-shaped

• 2.5–7.5 cm long

• Finely hairy texture

• Alternate arrangement

• Serrated/toothed margins

Flowers

• Small

• Yellow or white

• Solitary or in small clusters in leaf axils

Fruit

• Small round capsule

• Contains numerous seeds

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Rasa Panchaka

• Rasa: Madhura

• Guna: Laghu, Snigdha

• Virya: Sheeta

• Vipaka: Madhura

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Pharmacological Properties (Karma)

• Vata-Pittahara

• Balya (strength promoting)

• Rasayana (rejuvenative)

• Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)

• Vrishya (aphrodisiac)

• Vranaropana (wound healing)

Other Actions

• Antipyretic

• Analgesic

• Anti-inflammatory

• Diuretic

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Therapeutic Uses

• Prameha (diabetes)

• Rajayakshma (tuberculosis)

• Shotha (inflammation)

• Arsha (piles)

• Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)

• Vrana (wounds)

• Respiratory disorders

• Jwara (fever)

• Sandhishoola / joint pain

• General body strengthening & rejuvenation

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Useful Parts

• Root

• Leaves

• Seeds

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Dose

• Decoction: 50–100 ml

• Root powder: 3–6 g

• Seed powder: 1–2 g

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Important Formulations

• Bala Taila

• Bala Ashwagandhadi Taila

• Bala Churna

• Chyawanprash

• Dasamoolarishta