Top 10 Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses of Bala (Sida Cordifolia) for Weight Loss, Hair and Skin

Bala meaning and introduction

The Bala ayurvedic herb has been used for beautifying purposes since ancient times. In Ayurveda, Balaessential is one of the important herbs used for various purposes like weight loss, glowing skin, boosting physical stamina, bodybuilding, aphrodisiac, etc.  The herb enhances the beauty along with Ashoka and Shatavari. The plant originated in India and Sri Lanka.  Stem and roots are the part of the plant used as medicine.

Health benefits of sida cordifolia

1. Weight loss: The ayurvedic herb contains stimulant alkaloids, essential in shedding extra fats and thus suitable for weight loss.
2. Hair: A plaster made up of Bala, Jatamansi, Amalaki, and Kushtha is applied to hair to promote hair growth.
3. Skin glowing: It is said that since ancient times, sida cordifolia has been used to increase the beauty of kings and queens. The herb enhances the beauty along with Ashoka and Shatavari.
4. Asthma: It is good to relieve chest congestion and helpful in case of bronchitis and asthma.
5. Vata disorders: It is considered the best nervine tonic and rejuvenating for all kinds of Vata disorders.
6. Tuberculosis: The decoction of its root is highly beneficial for tuberculosis, especially when taken with ghee and honey.
7. Pain: The regular use of this herb is beneficial in overcoming arthritis and joint pains. It also helps to reduce the stiffness of joints.
8. Sperm count: The use of this medicinal herb is helpful to increase both the quality and quantity of sperm, thus beneficial in the case of male and female infertility. It also controls the pre-ejaculation of sperm.
9. Piles: It is pretty effective for piles. The cooked leaves are generally used to treat bleeding piles.
10. Swelling: The massage with its oil is good for swelling. The crushed leaves are also used for wound dressing.

10 Medicinal uses of sida cordifolia

1. It is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic agent.
2. Since it is anti-inflammatory, it is used to treat inflammation of wounds.
3. Bala is a diuretic and stimulates the central nervous system.
4. It’s used as a rejuvenating, nutritive, and stimulant of the heart.
5. It is used as milk decoction with sugar to improve general health and curb sexual debility.
6. The use of country mallow is taken as immunity-boosting food.
7. Since it is anabolic to muscle tissue, it is one of the best supplements for athletes.
8. For facial palsy, paralysis, and spondylosis, its medicated oil is used as a massage. The massage of it also helps to increase muscle tone.
9. It helps to remove excess mucous from the body.
10. It is used as a diuretic, i.e., it helps increase the amount of urine excretion.

Nutritional Facts of Bala

Sida cordifolia has some critical biochemical substances such as fatty oils, phytosterol, resin, resin acids, mucin, potassium nitrate, ephedra, pseudoephedrine, sterculic acid, malvalic acid, saponins, hypaphroine, palmitic acid, stearic acid, etc.

Side effects of sida cordifolia

There are some precautions to Bala. All these have to be taken care of.

• It contains ephedra, which may cause serious consequences, even death.
• Memory loss
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Stroke
• It can increase Kapha.
• Constipation
• Disturbed sleep
• Irritability

Different names of Bala

• Hindi: Barial
• Latin: Sida cordifolia
• English: Country mallow
• Bengali: Berela
• Sanskrit: Bala
• Kannada: Chitturharalu
• Malayalam: Katturam
• Telugu: Cherubenda
• Marathi: Bala
• Gujarati: Jangli methi

Ayurvedic properties of Bala

• Rasa (taste): Sweet
• Guna (physical properties): Light and sticky
• Vriya (potency): Cold
• Vipaka (metabolic activities): Sweet
• Attributes: Heavy, unctuous, and slimy
• Dosha: Alleviates Vata and Pitta
• Action: Tonic, rejuvenating, aphrodisiac, augments ojas

Bala varieties

There are four varieties of Bala mentioned in Ayurvedic texts.

• Batyalaka (Sida cordifolia)
• Mahabala (Sida rhomboidea)
• Atibala (Sida rhombifolia)
• Nagabala (Sida alba)

Bala powder uses and benefits.

Bala powder has healing properties that help to balance tridoshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), thus protecting the body from various diseases and disorders. The powder is used as an appetiser and enriched with anti-oxidants.  Being a CNS depressant, it benefits anxiety and sleep disorder patients. The powder is also used to remove general weakness and build up stamina.