Herb × Condition

Bala for Male Sexual Health

Sanskrit: बला | Sida cordifolia Linn.

How Bala helps with Male Sexual Health according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

Overview

Bala is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for male sexual health. Bala (Sida cordifolia) is one of the most important Rasayana drugs in Ayurveda. It is a small shrub growing commonly in waste lands. The entire plant, especially the root, is used medicinally. Four types of Bala are recognized in classical texts: Bala (Sida cordifolia), Atibala (Abutilon indicum), Nagabala (Grewia hirsuta), and Mahabala. Bala is the premier Vatahara and Balya drug - it increases strength (Bala), nourishes Ojas, and acts as a powerful tonic and rejuvenative. The root decoction is used in Vata diseases, nervous debility, and as a general restorative. It contains small amounts of Ephedrine. It is sweet in taste and cold in potency, making it ideal for Pitta-Vata conditions. Used extensively in medicated oils (Bala Taila) for external application in neuromuscular disorders. Dose: root powder 1-2 masha; decoction 1-2 tola.

How Bala Helps with Male Sexual Health

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Bala has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing male sexual health:

  • Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
  • Taste (Rasa): Madhura (sweet)
  • Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous), Picchila (slimy)

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Sweet (Madhura)
Quality (Guna)
Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha), Slimy (Picchila)
Potency (Virya)
Cold (Sheeta)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Sweet (Madhura)
Key Constituents
Ephedrine (0.03%), Phytosterol, Potassium nitrate, Mucilage, Resin
Also Known As
English: Country Mallow
Sanskrit: बला, वाट्यालिका, वाट्यपुष्पी, खरयष्टी, भद्रौदनी
Hindi: बरियार, खिरैंटी, बरिआर

What the Classical Texts Say

Kaya Chikitsa – General medicine Bala Chikitsa – Paediatrics Graha Chikitsa – Psychiatry Urdhvanga Chikitsa – Diseases and treatment of Ear, Nose, Throat, Eyes and Head (neck and above region) Shalya Chikitsa – Surgery Damshrta Chikitsa – Toxicology Jara Chikitsa – Geriatrics Vrushya Chikitsa – Aphrodisiac therapy These are the eight branches of Ayurveda.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 1: Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

Variation in strength as per season शीते अ यं, व ृि त घम अ पं बलं , म यं तु शेषयो: । śīte agryaṃ, vṛṣti gharme alpaṃ balaṃ, madhyaṃ tu śeṣayo: | Winter – Hemantha and Shishira – mid November – mid March – Highest strength Summer and rainy seasons – mid May – mid September – Lowest strength Spring and Autumn – Medium strength.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 3: Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

(Provided cow is perfectly healthy without any infection) Dadhi (curds benefits/soured milk/coagulated milk) अ लपाकरसं ा ह गु णं द ध वातिजत ् २९ मेदः शु बल ले म प तर ताि नशोफकृत ् रो च णु श तम चौ शीतके वषम वरे ३० पीनसे मू कृ े च, ं तु हणीगदे नैवा याि न श नैवो णं वस तो ण शर सु न ३१ नामु गसूपं ना ौ ं त नाघ ृत सतोपलम ् न चानामलकं ना प न यं णो म थम यथा ३२ वरास ृि प तवीसपकु ठपा डु म दम ् Curd has Amla rasa – sour taste Amla paka – undergoes sour taste conversion after digestion Grahi - abs

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Navanita (Butter):नवनीतं नवं व ृ यं शीतं वणबलाि नकृत ् ३५ स ा ह वाता पतास ृ ीरो वं तु स याश दतकासिजत ् ा ह र त प ता रोगिजत ् ३६ Fresh Navanita (butter) is Vrushya – aphrodisiac, Sheeta – coolant Varna, bala, agnikrut – improves skin complexion, strength and digestion strength.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

126 जा भवं गु स व टि भ शीतलं भ ृशवातलम ् ा ह मू शकृ तोरक यं कफ प तिजत ् Jambava (Jamun fruit) is not easily digestible, stays long inside the stomach, cold in potency, causes aggravation of vata especially, absorbs moisture from urine and faeces, bad for throat and mitigates kapha and pitta 127 वात प ता कृ बालं , ब ाि थकफ प तकृत ् गुवा ं वातिज प वं वा व लं कफशु कृत ् Bala amra (tender unripe mango) increases Vata, Rakta (blood) and pitta; when its seed is fully formed, it increases Kaph

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

The above two – laghu and mahat panchamoola constitute Dashamoola बलापन ु नवैर डशप ू पण वयेन तु म यमं कफवात नं ना त प तकरं सरम ् Bala, punarnava, eranda, surpaparni dvaya (masaparni and mundgaparni) together from the madhyama pancamula.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

Madhura Gana – group of sweet substances: घ ृत हे म गुडा ोडमोचचोचप षकम ् अभी वीरा पनस राजादनबला यम ् मेदे चत ः प ण योजीव ती जीवक ऋषभौ मधूकं मधुकं ब बी वदार ीर शु ला त ग ु ा ीर ीरे ुगो ुर ौ ावणीयुगम ् ी र यौ का मर सहे ा ा दमधुरो गणः Ghrita (ghee, butter fat), Hema (gold), Guda (molasses), Akshoda, Mocha, Chocha, Parushaka, Abhiru, Vira, Panasa, Rajadana, the three Bala (Bala, Atibala and Nagabala), The two Medas – Meda and Mahameda, The four Parni – Shalaparni, Prishnaparni, Mudgaparni, Ma

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Kashaya Varga (Gana) – group of astringents: वगःकषायः प या ं शर षः ख दरो मधु कद बोद ु बरं मु ता वाला जनगै रकम ् बालं क प थं खजूरं वसप ो पला द च Group of astringents consists of Pathya – Chebuic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula, Aksha – Terminalia bellirica, Shireesa, Khadira – Black catechu (heart wood extract) – Acacia catechu, Madhu (honey), Kadamba, Udumbara, Mukta (Pearls), Pravala (Coral), Anjana – Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata (antimony), Gairika – Purified Red Ochre, B

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Effects of increased Doshas – Vriddha Dosha Karma:Effects of increased Vata – वृ तु कु ते अ नलः का यका बल न े ि यउ नका म वक पाना शकृ हान ् य ंश लाप मद नताः Vata, when increased produces Karshya – emaciation, Karshnya – black discoloration, Ushnakamitva – desire for hot things, Kampa – tremors Anaha – bloating, fullness, distention of the abdomen, Shakrut Graha – constipation, Bala bhramsha – loss of strength, Nidra bhramsha – loss of sleep Indriya bhramsha – loss of sensory functions, Pral

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 11: Tridosha - Knowledge

4 Udana Vata – उरः वा थानमद ु ान य नासाना भगलां चरे त ् व ृि त य नोजाबलवण म ृ त यः The chest is the seat of Udana, it moves in the nose, umbilicus and throat; its functions are initiation of speech (vak), effort (Prayatna), enthusiasm (Urja), strength (bala) , color, complexion (varna) and memory (smruti) 5 Vyana Vata – यानो दि थतः कृ नदे हचार महाजवः ग यप ेपणो ेप नमेषो मे णा दकाः ायः सवाः या ति मन ् तब ाः शर रणाम ् Vyana is located in the heart, moves all over the body in great sp

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 12: Doshabhediya Dosha Types,

65-66 Factors to observe in patient द ू यं दे शं बलं कालं अनलं स वं सा कृ त ं वयः यं तथा आहारं अव था च प ृथि वधाः ६७ सू म सू माः समी यैषां दोष औषध न पणे यो वतते च क सायां न स खल त जातु चत ् ६८ The physician should minutely examine and determine, Dushya – the Dhatus and Malas involved in a diseases Desha – the area of the body where disease is manifested, the living place of the patient Bala – strength of the patient Kala- season, how old is the disease, age of the person etc.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 12: Doshabhediya Dosha Types,

Garbhini – pregnant Sutika –the women who has delivered, Bala – children, Vruddha – the aged and Greeshme – in the month of summer, even the other people, who are not indicated above should be given Nourishing therapy.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 14: Dvividha Upakramaneeya

Snehyah – persons suitable for oleation :वे य संशो यम य ी यायामास त च तकाः व ृ बाला बलकृशा ाः ीणा रे तसः ५ वातात य द त मरदा ण तबो धनः ने याः People who require Snehana therapy are Svedya, Samshodhya – Those who are to be administered sudation and purification therapies, Madya Stree, Vyayama asakta – who indulge more in wine, women and exercise; Chintaka – who think too much, Vruddha – the aged, Bala – the children, Abala – the debilitated, Krusha – the emaciated, fatigue; Ruksha – who are

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 16: Snehavidhi oleation therapy

शीलनीयः सदा च सा बालव ृ ा वभार ी यायामास त च तकैः वातभ नाबला पाि ननप ृ े वरसुखा म भः दोष नो न पर हारो ब यः ु टमलः सुखः It should be used always for Bala – children, Vriddha – the aged, Adhva, Bhara, Stri, Vyayama – who are habituated to long walking, carrying heavy weight, sexual activity and exercise Chinta – who think too much, who are suffering from- diseases of vata, fractures, debility, poor who are digestive activity, for kings, wealthy persons and persons who live happily.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 19: Vasti Vidhi Enema

Similar is the case of Anuvasana – fat enema and Matra basti – fat enema with very little oil 34-36 Anu taila जीव तीजलदे वदा जलद व से यगोपी हमं दाव व मधुक लवागु वर पु ा व ब वो पलम ् धाव यौ सरु भं ि थरे कृ महरं प ं ु ट रे णक ु ां कि ज कं कमला वलां शतगुणे द ये अ भ स वाथयेत ् ३७ तैला सं दशगण ु ं प रशो य तेन तैलं पचेत ् स ललेन दशैव वारान ् पाके पे चदशमे सममाजद ु धं न यं महागुणमुश यणुतैलमेतत ् ३८ Jivanti, Jala, Devadaru, Jalada, Twak, Sevya, Gopi (sariva), Hima, Darvi twak, Madhuka, Plava, A

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 20: Nasya Vidhi Nasal

Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 1, Ch. 3, Ch. 5, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 6, Ch. 10, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 12, Ch. 14, Ch. 16, Ch. 19, Ch. 20

Other Herbs for Male Sexual Health

See all herbs for male sexual health on the Male Sexual Health page.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.