Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Bala

Sida cordifolia

Bala (Sida cordifolia) is classified in Ayurveda as Balya (Strength-promoting), Brimhana (Nourishing), from the Malvaceae family. Parts used: root, seed, whole plant. One of the most important Vatahara (anti-Vata) drugs.

Key facts
Botanical nameSida cordifolia
FamilyMalvaceae · other entries in this family
OrderMalvales
Ayurvedic categoryBalya (Strength-promoting), Brimhana (Nourishing)
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5406755 · Wikidata Q1300611 · NCBI Taxonomy 108362

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishBala
Common NamesCountry Mallow, Bala
HindiBala, Bariyara
SanskritBala, Vatyalika
Latin/BotanicalSida cordifolia

Parts Used

  • Root
  • Seed
  • Whole plant

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)MadhuraPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Snigdha, GuruPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosha Effects

DoshaEffect
VataDecreases
PittaDecreases
KaphaMay Increase

Key Phytochemical Constituents

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

How is it used traditionally?

Name means ‘strength’. One of the most important Vatahara (anti-Vata) drugs. Used for Vatavyadhi (neurological disorders), Balakshaya (loss of strength), and in Basti (enema) formulations. Bala Taila is widely used in Panchakarma.

Where is it described in the classical texts?

  • Charaka Samhita (Balya group)
  • Sushruta Samhita
  • Ashtanga Hridaya

Root powder: 3-6g/day; Oil (Bala Taila): external use

Safety, contraindications and cautions

  • Hypertension (ephedrine content)
  • Heart conditions
  • Pregnancy
  • Banned/restricted in some countries due to ephedrine

What is it made of?

Part(s) Analyzed: Root, Seed, Whole plant

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Taila (oil), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Ghrita (ghee preparation), Swarasa (fresh juice)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 15-30ml decoction; Bala Taila for external use; 500mg standardized extract capsule

Bioavailability: Ephedrine alkaloids show good oral bioavailability (>75%). Mucilaginous polysaccharides may reduce absorption rate but extend duration. Fat-soluble constituents (phytosterols) benefit from lipid-based delivery (ghrita/taila). Piperine co-administration increases alkaloid bioavailability by 25-30%.

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water or milk for strength-building; Taila applied warm in the morning for Vata disorders

Standardized Extract: Root extract standardized to NLT 0.1% total alkaloids (as ephedrine); NLT 1.5% beta-sitosterol; aqueous extract 10:1 ratio

Shelf Life: 2 years (powder/capsule); 3 years (tablet); 5 years (Taila, properly prepared)

Storage: Cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Oil preparations in amber glass bottles. Powder in airtight containers to prevent moisture absorption due to mucilage.

Marker Compounds: Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Palmitic acid, Linoleic acid, Mucilage polysaccharides

Extraction Methods

  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (70:30 ethanol:water)
  • Aqueous decoction for Kashayam
  • Cold-pressed oil infusion (Taila method: 1:4:16 kalka:taila:kwath)
  • Supercritical CO2 for alkaloid-rich fractions
  • Soxhlet extraction with methanol for research-grade extracts

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Ashwagandha for muscle strength and Rasayana (rejuvenation)
  • With Dashamoola for musculoskeletal disorders
  • With Narayana Taila ingredients for pain management
  • With Guduchi for immune modulation
  • With Shatavari for female reproductive health

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews2

  1. Kumar S, Kumar S, Vishnoi VK and others. 2024. Sida cordifolia L.: Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Phytonanotechnology, and Commercial ApplicationCurrent pharmaceutical biotechnology. PMID 37861013 · doi:10.2174/0113892010262937230919100024
  2. Dinda B, Das N, Dinda S and others. 2015. The genus Sida L. - A traditional medicine: Its ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and pharmacological data for commercial exploitation in herbal drugs industryJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 26497766 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.027

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Kumar S, Kumar S, Mir MA and others. 2023. Bioefficacy of Sida cordifolia L. phytoextract against foodborne bacteria: optimization and bioactive compound analysisFuture microbiology. PMID 37750761 · doi:10.2217/fmb-2023-0064
  2. Imran M, Robert SMJ, Sharma M and others. 2023. Evaluation of Sida cordifolia and Sida rhombifolia extracts in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathyPolimery w medycynie. PMID 36975210 · doi:10.17219/pim/156847
  3. Alam P, Imran M, Ahmed S and others. 2023. Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Delivery of Sida cordifolia Extract: Formulation, Optimization and Bioactivity AssessmentPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38004427 · doi:10.3390/ph16111561
  4. Padmanabhan D, Natarajan P, Palanisamy S. 2022. Integrated Metabolite and Transcriptome Profiling-Mediated Gene Mining of Sida cordifolia Reveals Medicinally Important GenesGenes. PMID 36292794 · doi:10.3390/genes13101909
  5. Iqbal H, Wright CL, Jones S and others. 2022. Extracts of Sida cordifolia contain polysaccharides possessing immunomodulatory activity and rosmarinic acid compounds with antibacterial activityBMC complementary medicine and therapies. PMID 35086541 · doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03502-7
  6. Patel K, Mangu SR, Sukhdeo SV and others. 2022. Ethanolic extract from the root and leaf of Sida cordifolia promotes osteoblast activity and prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in micePhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 35263671 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154024
  7. Boubacar Laougé Z, Merdun H. 2020. Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of Sida cordifolia L. using thermogravimetric analysisBioresource technology. PMID 31869633 · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122602
  8. Kumar S, Lakshmi PK, Sahi C and others. 2019. Sida cordifolia accelerates wound healing process delayed by dexamethasone in rats: Effect on ROS and probable mechanism of actionJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 30769040 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.07.003
  9. Subramanya MD, Pai SR, Upadhya V and others. 2015. Total polyphenolic contents and in vitro antioxidant properties of eight Sida species from Western Ghats, IndiaJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 25878460 · doi:10.4103/0975-9476.146544
  10. Kubavat JB, Asdaq SM. 2009. Role of Sida cordifolia L. leaves on biochemical and antioxidant profile during myocardial injuryJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 19527827 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.04.004

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