Botanical Name: Sida cordifolia Linn. /Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa

Family: MALVACEAE

Names in different language

Hindi - Khirainti, Bariyara; Telugu - Chittamutti, Mattavapulagam; English - Country Mallow; Malayalam - Vellurum; Tamil - Paniyar Tuttul Jannada-Hettuti

Synonyms - Vatyã, Vatyalika, Vatyapuspi, Vãtyai, hadroudani.

Classification according to Caraka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

Caraka Balã, Brmhaniya, Prajãsthapana, Madhuraskandha
Susruta Vãtasamgamana
Vagbhata –
Sida rhombifolia ssp. Retusa

Introduction

The root of the herb is known as a good tonic and immune modulator, mainly using for vãta rogas

Varieties & adulterants

1. S.acuta Burm
2. S.rombifolia
3. S.restusa
4. S.spinosa

Morphology

• A small downy erect herb or shrub, 1.2 m. in height, with long branches, sometimes rooting at nodes.
• Leaves - cordate, oblong, ovate or ovate-oblong, very downy on both surfaces; petiole as long as the blade.
• Flowers small, tawny yellow or white, carpels 10. Fruits - with a pair of awns on each carpel. (Flowers and grows wild along the roadsides, throughout sub-tropical and tropical India, ascending up to 1,200 m.)
• Chemical composition: Major components of seeds are alkaloids. Alkaloid contains mainly ephedrine. It also contains a fatty acid, mucin, potassium nitrate and resin. Ephedrine, hypaphorine, vasicinone, vascicine, vasicinol, choline, betaine, phytosterol etc.

Part Used

Root
Dosage - Decoction 50-100 ml, powder 3-6 g.

Properties

• Rasa - Madhura

• Guna - Laghu, Snigdha, Picchila

• Vipãka - Madhura Balya, Brmhana, Vrsya

• Karma - Vãta-Pitta ha

External use

The paste is analgesic and alleviates oedema. It is locally applied over inflammation and eye disorders.

Internal use

• Central nervous system: Being neural tonic and vatasharnak, it is useful in vata disorders like paralysis, facial palsy etc.
• Digestive system: Emollient, deflatulent, and astringent. Useful in flatulence.
• Circulatory system: Cardiac tonic and alleviates haemorrhagic disorders, hence used in cardiac debility, haemorrhagic disorders, and bronchiectasis.
• Reproductive system: Aphrodisiac and useful in spermatorrhoea.
• Urinary system: Diuretic, so useful in dysuria.
• Temperature: Useful in fever being a febrifuge
• Satmikaran: Being tonic, it is helpful in general debility. tuberculosis and undernourishment.

Important Yogas or Formations

• Batadi kwath. Baladya ghrita. Baladyarishta, Chandanabalalakshadi taila.
• Srotogamitva
• Dosha Alleviates vata, pitla
• Dhatu Rakta. mansa, shukra. oja (enhancer).
• Main: Purisha (astringent)
• Indications - Raktapitta, Vatavyãdhi, Prameha, Ksaya

Therapeutic Uses

• Antra vrddhi — Balã ksira is added to Eianda taila and administered orally.
• Galaganda — Balã, Atibalã and Devãdaru are powdered and given through oral route.
• Vatavyãdhi — Balã yüsa is the best for Vatarogãs.