Botanical Name— Sida cordifolia Linn.
Names in different languages
Hindi- Khirainti, Bariyara; Telugu-Chittamutti, Mattavapulagam; English- Country Mollow; Malayalam-Vellurum; Tamil- Paniyar Tuttul Jannada-Hettuti
Synonyms— Vatyã, Vatyalika, Vatyapuspi, Vãtyai, hadroudani.
Classification according to Caraka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
Caraka Balã, Brmhaniya, Prajãsthapana, Madhuraskandha
The root of the herb is known as a good tonic and immune modulator , mainly using for vãta rogas
Varieties & adulterants
Bhãvamisra mentioned four varieties
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 fatty acid, mucin, potassium nitrate and resin, hypaphorine, vasicinone, vascicine, vasicinol, choline, betaine, phytosterol etc.
Dosage— Decoction 50-100 ml, powder 4-6 g.
Guna Laghu, Snigdha, Picchila
Vipãka Madhura Balya, Brmhana, Vrsya
Karma Vãta-Pitta hara
Distribution & Habitat.
All over India and Srilanka.
External use: Paste is analgesic and alleviates oedema. It is locally applied over inflammation and eye disorders.
Central nervous-system : Being neural tonic and vatasharnak, it is useful in vata disorders like paralysis, facial palsy etc
Digestive system : Emollient and astringent. Useful in flatulence.
Circulatory system : Cardiac tonic and alleviates
haemorrhagic disorders, hence used in cardiac debility, haemorrhagic disorders .
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.
Dosha Alleviates vata, pitta
Dhatu Rakta. mansa, shukra. oja (enhancer).
Main : Purisha (astringent)
Indications— Raktapitta, Vatavyãdhi, Prameha, Ksaya
Important research work going on
(1) action in nervous system
(2) In an experimental study on the Rasayana drugs
(I) Antra vrddhi— Balã ksira is added to Eianda taila and administered orally (C. D.)
(ii) Galaganda— Balã, Atibalã and Devãdaru are powdered and given through oral rout(S.S.Cil8).
(iii) Vatavyãdhi— Balã yüsa is the best for Vatarogãs (V.M).