A literery review on bala panchaka

The word Panchaka means five, Bala Panchaka means five types of Bala viz; Bala (Sida cordifolia Linn),  Atibala (Abutilon indicum Linn), Mahabala (Sida rhombifolia Linn), Nagabala (Grewia hirsuta Vahl), Rajabala (Sida veronifoila Linn). Bala means strength promoting, hence it bestows strength and is a tonic in general as well as rejuvenator for all kinds of Vataja disorders. The Bala Panchaka is having Madhura Rasa, Madhura Vipaka and Sheeta Virya. In Brimhaniya Mahakashaya of Charaka Samhita it is enumerated that Vatyayani as Bala and Bhadroudini is Atibala. There are two varieties of Atibala one is big and the other is small. The bigger one is known as Abutilon hirtum where as the smaller one is named as Abutilon indicum Linn. In the Atharva Parishishta the Bala flowers were used as Pushpabhisheka. The present study of Bala Panchaka reveals the pharmacological actions, their controversies, morphology, etc. according to different Ayurvedic lexicons. Further scope of study is to evaluate the pharmacological actions such as Nerve tonic, Aphrodisiac, weight promoting and weight loss actions, anti-tubercular activities.