Herbs
- Bala
Latin
-- Sida cordifolia
Sanskrit -- Bala
Hindi -- Khareti
English -- Country Mallow
Parts Used:
Roots, leaves,
seeds and stems. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared
in its own way for the maximum benefits.
Traditional
Ayurvedic Uses:
This is one the
most often used Ayurvedic herbs because it simultaneously balances all three
laws of the physiology (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), a rare effect.
Bala is primarily
known for giving stamina or inner strength.
It helps balance
proper amounts of the male hormone, testosterone, and increases sexual desire.
Bala has a Vrishya
effect, meaning that it enhances the quality and quantity of reproductive
fluids (Shukra Dhatu) for conception of healthy offspring.
It builds general
immunity (the word Bala can actually be translated as immunity).
It is a good
Rasayana (overall tonic and longevity enhancer).
Bala is a good
tonic for the lungs.
Bala contains
five of the six tastes, a very rare property indicating that it provides nourishment
of all aspects of nature's intelligence (the five Mahabhutas).
NOTE: As with
most single herbs, Bala should always be taken in balanced combinations with
other herbs, to prevent aggravation of any existing congestion.
The ayurvedic
physicians of Maharishi Ayurveda do not recommend the use of single herbs
for self-care due to several important reasons (see the index page of the
ayurvedic herb section for details).
One of the specialties
of ayurveda is the science of herb combining that has been perfected over
thousands of years of clinical practice. From this ayurvedic perspective,
the study of herbs from scientific research which is based on single ingredient
formulas is not very practical. This is because an herb can give a number
of different effects depending on the other herbs it is combined with as well
as a number of other factors such as dosage, how the herb was processed, etc.
If one focuses just on the results of a study based on one ingredient, while
it may be interesting, it does not give the full insight into the complete
range of effects available from that particular herb.
