Kshirabala Thailam
Kshirabala Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic taila, a medicated oil. Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Ashtanga Hridayam (Vatarakta Chikitsa chapter). The 101 Avarti (101 times processed) variant is described in Sahasrayogam. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 8:11) lists 5 ingredients: Bala kasaya (bala) 16 parts, Bala kalka (bala) 1 part, Taila (tila) 4 parts, Ksira (godugdha) 4 parts and Water 16 parts.
| Also known as | Kshirabala Thailam, KshirabalaThailam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Referenced in Ashtanga Hridayam and Sahasrayogam. The 101 Avarti form is a speciality product unique to the Kerala Ayurvedic tradition. Manufactured by major Ayurvedic companies (Kottakkal, Kerala Ayurveda, Vaidyaratnam) under GMP standards. |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 8:11 (KSIRABALA TAILA), which cites Astangahrdaya, Vataraktacikitsa, Adhyaya 22; 44.. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bala kasaya (bala) (bala) | root | 16 parts |
| 2 | Bala kalka (bala) (bala) | root | 1 part |
| 3 | Taila (tila) (tila) | oil | 4 parts |
| 4 | Ksira (godugdha) (godugdha) | 4 parts | |
| 5 | Water | 16 parts |
The Formulary gives the dose as 12 g, with anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, of milk, warm water. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
The evidence at a glance
2papers on this site for this drug, published 1996 to 2014, 1 with a DOI.
- 2Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kshirabala Thailam |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Ashtanga Hridayam (Vatarakta Chikitsa chapter). The 101 Avarti (101 times processed) variant is described in Sahasrayogam. One of the most referenced Tailas in Kerala Ayurvedic tradition.
How does it work?
- Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine alkaloids from Bala (Sida cordifolia) provide analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilatory effects via adrenergic receptor modulation
- Repeated processing (101 Avarti) concentrates lipophilic phytoconstituents and increases bioavailability of low molecular weight fatty acids facilitating transdermal and transmucosal absorption
- Milk proteins and fats act as emulsifiers that stabilize herbal extracts and enhance penetration through biological membranes, including nasal mucosa during Nasya administration
- Beta-sitosterol and mucilaginous compounds from Bala are traditionally described as nourishing nerve tissue (Majja Dhatu)
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Neurological disorders (facial paralysis, hemiplegia, sciatica): traditionally used for these conditions. Clinical studies have reported neuroprotective activity and improved motor function.
- Cervical and lumbar spondylosis: traditionally used for these conditions. Randomized trials have reported less pain and stiffness, comparable to conventional therapy.
- Insomnia and anxiety (Vata-related mental disorders): traditionally used as a nervine tonic for these conditions. Pharmacological studies have reported GABA-modulatory properties of Bala alkaloids.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- High oral doses may cause mild digestive discomfort in some individuals. Rare cases of skin allergy have been noted - patch test advised for sensitive individuals.
- Use in children and elderly should be under practitioner guidance. Contraindicated in Kapha-dominant conditions with excessive congestion. Those with lactose intolerance may need to exercise caution with internal use given the milk component.
What is it made of?
The Ayurvedic Formulary of India recipe, every ingredient with its part and quantity, is in the composition table near the top of this page.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Thailam (medicated oil for external/internal use), Capsules (modern), Nasal drops (for Nasya)
Standard Dosage: External: sufficient for Abhyanga. Internal: 5-15 mL with warm milk. Nasya: 2-6 drops per nostril. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 8:11 states a dose of 12 g; that is a different unit from the figure above and the two cannot be compared without knowing the oil’s density. The formulary’s anupana: milk, warm water. The formulary attributes this formula to Astangahrdaya, Vataraktacikitsa, Adhyaya 22; 44.
Optimal Timing: External: morning Abhyanga. Internal: before meals or bedtime. Nasya: morning on empty stomach.
Storage: Store in amber glass bottles in a cool, dry place. Temperature not exceeding 25°C. Protect from light. Nasya variant requires enhanced microbial standards.
Marker Compounds: Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Beta-sitosterol, Sesamin, Sesamolin, Phospholipid complexes (from milk processing)
Vehicle (Anupana): External: warm oil. Internal: warm milk. Nasya: lukewarm oil.
Synergistic Combinations
- Dhanwantaram Thailam
- Balarishta (internal)
- Dashamularishta
- Mahanarayana Taila
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 7 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| AVN Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Kerala Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Patanjali Ayurved | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| SNA Oushadhasala | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies2
- 1996. Standardisation of ksheerabala tailaAncient science of life. PMID 22556766
- 2014. Effect of anuvasana basti with ksheerabala taila in sandhigata vata (osteoarthritis)Ayu. PMID 25558159 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.146225
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.