The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s6.t1: Sida Cordifolia

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s6.t1

Language: English

Sida Cordifolia

c5.s6.t1.1

*Sans.* बला, *Balá*. बाट्यालक, *Bátyálaka*. *Vern.* *Berela*, Beng. *Khareti*, Hind.

FOUR varietes of *balá* are mentioned by Sanskrit writers, namely, *Bátyálaka*, (*Sida cordifolia*). *Mahábalá*, (*Sida rhomboidea*)∗ *Atibalá*, (*Sida rhombifolia*). *Nágabalá*, (*Sida alba*). The roots of all these species, are regarded as cooling, astringent, tonic and useful in nervous diseases, urinary diseases and disorders of the blood and bile. In intermittent fever, a decoction of the root of *Sida cordifolia* and ginger is given.¹ It is said to be useful in fevers with cold shivering fits, followed by strong heat of body. The powder of the root-bark is given with milk aud sugar, for the relief of frequent micturition and leucorrhoea.²

c5.s6.t1.3

∗ This is only a variety of *Sida rhombifolia*, *L.*

c5.s6.t1.4

¹ महाबलामूल महौषधाभ्यां काथो निहन्त्यादिशमज्वरं हि । शीतं सकम्पं परिदाहयुक्तं विनाशयेत् द्विविदिनप्रयोगात् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s6.t1.5

² प्रदरं हन्ति बलाया मूलं दुग्धेन मधुयुतं पीतम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s6.t1.6

In diseases of the nervous system, such as insanity, paralysis, facial palsy, etc. the root of *Sida cordifolia* is used alone or in combination with other medicines, as in the following, called *Másha baládi kvátha*.³ Take of the pulse of *Phaseolus Roxburghii* (*másha*), root-bark of *Sida cordifolia* (*balá*), root of castor oil plant and of *Mucuna pruriens* (*átmaguptá*), *Hygrophila polysperma* (*katrina*), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), and *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), equal parts, in all two tolas, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. It is administered with the addition of assafœtida and rock salt, in hemiplegia, stiff neck, facial paralysis, and noise in the ears with headache. An oil for external application in these diseases, called *Balátaila*⁴ is thus prepared. Take of the root of *Sida cordifolia*, four seers, water, thirty-two seers and boil down to eight seers. To this decoction, add eight seers of milk, four seers of prepared sesamum oil, and one seer of the root of *Sida cordifolia* in the form of paste, and prepare an oil in the usual way.

c5.s6.t1.7

³ माषबलादिः । माषबलाशुकशिम्बीकत्थरास्नाश्वगन्धोरुबकाणाम् । काथो नस्यनिपोतोरामलवणान्वितः कोष्णः । अपहरति पक्षवातं मन्यास्तम्भं सकर्णनादरुजम् । दुर्जयमर्हितवातं सप्ताहाज्जियतिचावश्यम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s6.t1.8

⁴ बलातैलम् । बलानिःकायल्कल्काभ्यां तैलपकं पयोन्वितम् । सर्व्वातविकारघ्नमेवं धैरीयपाचितम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

Linked texts (2)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit