- Bala (Sida cordifolia) is native to tropical regions of India and Sri Lanka. The plant is considered to be one of the most valuable medicinal plants in Ayurveda, the ancient traditional medical system of India. Bala is said to contain five of the six tastes, a rare property, indicating that it provides nourishment from the five mahabhutas (earth, water, fire, air, and space). Bala has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including aching joints and bones, asthma, chills, colds, cough, fever, flu, headache, nasal congestion, nerve pain, wheezing, and wounds, and it has been used as an aphrodisiac.
- Bala is associated with Parvathi, the ancient Hindu goddess of beauty and grace. The herb is part of a trio of "beautifying" herbs, together with ashoka and shatavari, associated with women in Indian herbal folk medicine.
- In India, bala is incorporated in many types of products, including moisturizing creams, massage and baby oils, and shampoo. Bala contains ephedrine, and several nutritional companies include it in weight loss products.
- Despite its long history of traditional medicinal use, clinical evidence supporting the use of bala to treat any condition in humans is lacking.
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Bala (Sida cordifolia)
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Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to . Selected references are listed below.
- Ashok P, Arulmozhi S, Bhaskara BP, et al. Comparative Food Intake Inhibitory Activity of Sida cordifolia Bala L. and Withania somniferia L. in rats. Journal of Natural Remedies 2007;7(2):289-293.
- Dhalwal K, Deshpande YS, Purohit AP, et al. Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Sida cordifolia Bala. Pharm Biol 2005;43(9):754-761.
- Franco CI, Morais LC, Quintans-Junior LJ, et al. CNS pharmacological effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Sida cordifolia L. leaves. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;98(3):275-279.
View Abstract - Franzotti EM, Santos CV, Rodrigues HM, et al. R. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity and acute toxicity of Sida cordifolia L. (Malva-branca). J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;72(1-2):273-277.
View Abstract - Jenny M, Schwaiger W, Bernhard D, et al. Apoptosis induced by the Tibetan herbal remedy PADMA 28 in the T cell-derived lymphocytic leukaemia cell line CEM-C7H2. J Carcinog 2005;4:15.
View Abstract - Kalix P.The pharmacology of psychoactive alkaloids from ephedra and catha. J Ethnopharmacol 1991;32(1-3):201-208.
View Abstract - Kanth VR, Diwan PV. Analgesic, antiinflammatory and hypoglycaemic activities of Sida cordifolia. Phytother Res 1999;13(1):75-77.
View Abstract - Kubavat JB, Asdaq SM. Role of Sida cordifolia L. leaves on biochemical and antioxidant profile during myocardial injury. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;124(1):162-165.
View Abstract - Marchei E, Pellegrini M, Pacifici R, et al. A rapid and simple procedure for the determination of ephedrine alkaloids in dietary supplements by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2006;41(5):1633-1641.
View Abstract - Medeiros IA, Santos MR, Nascimento NM, et al. Cardiovascular effects of Sida cordifolia leaves extract in rats. Fitoterapia 2006;77(1):19-27.
View Abstract - Philip BK, Muralidharan A, Natarajan B, et al. Preliminary evaluation of anti-pyretic and anti-ulcerogenic activities of Sida cordifolia methanolic extract. Fitoterapia 2008;79(3):229-231.
View Abstract - Santos MR, Nascimento NM, Antoniolli AR, et al. Endothelium-derived factors and k+ channels are involved in the vasorelaxation induced by Sida cordifolia L. in the rat superior mesenteric artery. Pharmazie 2006;61(5):466-469.
View Abstract - Silva RL, Melo GB, Melo VA, et al. Effect of the aqueous extract of Sida cordifolia on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Acta Cir Bras 2006;21 Suppl 1:37-39.
View Abstract - Sutradhar RK, Rahman AM, Ahmad M, et al. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic alkaloid from Sida cordifolia linn. Pak J Pharm Sci 2007;20(3):185-188.
View Abstract - Tamura S, Kaneko M, Shiomi A, et al. Unprecedented NES non-antagonistic inhibitor for nuclear export of Rev from Sida cordifolia. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010;20(6):1837-1839.
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