Spices & Medicinal herbs

HERBS	Angelica :: Aloe Vera :: Basil :: Chamomile :: Chives :: Coriander :: Dill :: Lemon Balm :: Musli :: Oregano :: Stevia
SPICES	Ajwain :: Allspice :: Bay Leaf :: Black Cardamon :: Green Cardamon :: Cinnamon :: Cloves :: Cumin :: Cayenne Pepper
VEGETABLES	Amaranth :: Breadfruit :: Brocolli :: Cauliflower :: Cucumber :: Drumstick :: Hijiki :: Garlic

Herbs Classifical of Herbs Herbs by Common Name Herbs by Property List of Herbs Alfalfa Allspice Aloe Vera Abuta Aconite Angelica Anise Annatto Antamul Arugula Agrimony African rue Apple mint Asafoetida Ashwagandha Avens Apple of Sodom Barberry Basil Bakula Bhilwa Bistort Bitter melon Bog Labrador Tea Borage Boldo Bala Bayberry Bearberry Bhringraj Beautyberry Black walnut Blessed thistle Black cohosh Burdock root Candle nut Capsicum Coriander Caraway Calamus Chamomile Chickweed Chives Cleavers Dill Echinacea Flax Fennel Lavender Kali Musli Lemon Balm Musli Oregano Stevia Spices Vegetables

Sida cordifolia

(Common name: Bala )

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• (Unranked)- Angiosperms
• (Unranked)- Eudicots
• (Unranked)- Rosids
• Order- Malvales
• Family- Malvaceae
• Genus- Sida
• Species- S. cordifolia

Bala is an ayurvedic plant which is extensively used in ayurveda and other medicinal uses.

History

Bala is an ayurvedic plant which is extensively used in ayurveda and other medicinal uses.

It is naturalized in tropical America and now has extended to the many parts of the world.

Plant Description

Bala is an invasive shrub that grows upto 0.75 to 1.5 meters in height. The roots of the shrub are stout and strong.

The leaves heart shaped hairy and cordate, 2.5-7 cm long and 2.5-6 cm wide having 7-10 veins.

The flowers are solitary and axillary, small and white in colour.

The fruits are long of about 6-8 mm in diameter and the seeds are smooth and gray-black in colour.

Cultivation

This herbal shrub is invasive and propagates fast. It is mainly grows near the damp areas.

It is widely found in India and other tropical parts of the world where grazing is casual and rains are heavy.

Parts Used

Leaves, roots and seeds.

Constituents

Bala contains active constituents- resin, essential oils and alkaloids like ephedrine, pseudophedrione, vasicine and vasicinol.

Uses

• Bala is majorly used in ayurvedic medicine to treat rheumatism, hematuria, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, chronic dysentery etc.
• It is also taken as cardiac tonic.
• The fresh decoction of bala mixed with ginger is been used to treat fever with cold shivering fits.
• In some parts of the world the roots of bala is applied to treat elephantiasis.
• The extract or tincture of bala herb is been taken to reduce weight.
• It is also thought to be effective in promoting sperm counting and in low libido in men�s.

Names

• CHINESE: Ke dong
• ENGLISH: Country mallow, Flannel weed, Heart-leaf sida.
• JAPANESE: Marubakingojikuwa.
• NEPALESE: Balu.
• SANSKRIT: Bala.
• SPANISH: llima.
• TAMIL: Chitaamuttie.