In Sanskrit, bala means ‘providing strength’, which is what this herb does to your body. Its major component, which is found in the seeds, is an alkaloid containing ephedrine, which is a central nervous system stimulant similar to amphetamine without the side effects. So its specific action is to promote vigour, enhance the complexion and alleviate vata dosha, which has the attributes of dryness, lightness, mobility and coldness. Bala promotes healing of wounds, is anti-inflammatory and encourages cell growth.
It’s a stimulant, soothes and promotes the action of your nervous system, and functions as an aphrodisiac. Bala is what’s known as a rasayana, which means that it’s a rejuvenating tonic, especially if you have general debility.
Besides working on all the tissue elements in your body, bala rejuvenates and maintains nerve tissue and bone marrow, keeping them in a healthy state. This makes it particularly useful for the common nervous impairments such as sciatica (radiating pain from the low back to the leg) and neuralgia (nerve pain).
Bala is helpful as a heart tonic and aids lung function in cases of bronchiectasis (an obstructive lung disease) or impaired breathing. It acts as a diuretic and can be useful in alleviating painful urination.
Bala’s potency is cooling to the system, and both its taste in your mouth and its post-digestive effects are sweet, which means that it can be used to soothe both vata and pitta conditions of your body.
To take bala internally, add from 250 milligrams up to 1 gram to a glass of milk.
Externally, you can use bala as a paste to alleviate swelling, numbness and
pain. Bala oil is available for the same purpose.
