COMMON NAMES: Huang hua mu [China] country mallow [English]; bala, mahabala [India]; chittamadi [Srilanka]; escobilla [Panama]; mautofu [Samoa]; petoria-bossie [Africa].
NOMENCLATURE:The name “Sida” was originally from Theophrastus who used it for Nymphaea alba. Linneaus applied it to this genus.
FAMILY: Malvaceae (mallow family).
CATEGORY: Clear damp heat.
PROPERTIES: Sweet bland cool.
PLANT PART USED: All of it. Stems are rich in mucilage. Root contains ephedrine
TOXICITY: No toxicity of the water extracted aerial parts in rats, even at doses of 10 g / kg, p.o. The LD50 for the root water extraction was 8.5g / kg p.o [Rao 1997].
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Boil for 30-45 minutes before drinking. Not in pregnancy.
PREPARATION OF MEDICINE: Decocted.
DOSAGE: 15 grams in combination. Up to 30 grams (1 oz.) alone.
STATUS IN HAWAI’I: Unknown. Possibly indigenous.
WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: Antibiotic; anti-inflammatory [China]; abortive; analgesic [China, India]; antidiabetic [India]; anti-inflammatory [India]; aphrodisiac [India (roots)]; beautifies [India]; demulcent [India (stems), Panama (seeds)]; diuretic [China, India (whole plant), Panama]; emmenagogue; emollient [India (stems), Panama (seeds)]; febrifuge [India (stems)]; hypoglycaemic [India]; lactagogue; nutritive [India]; sedative [Panama]; strengthens the body [India]; tonic [India].
TRADITIONAL CHINESE ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS (~ = extrapolated):
1) Clears heat
2) Benefits dampness
3) Stop pain
Huang Hua Mu Common Medicinal Uses
Depression
Bronchitis, cough, wheezing
Urinary tract inflammation.
Huang Hua Mu Cross-Cultural Medicinal Uses
BITES & STINGS
Scorpion sting [India (mucilage)].
Snake bite.
Wasp sting.
COSMETIC.
Alopecia.
DERMATOLOGICAL.
Skin diseases [India (stems)]; dermatosis; itching; eczema of the scrotum [China]; impetigo.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a neuroamine that is sometimes used for depression. It is also associated with people in love. It occurs in chocolate and is secreted by the brains of athletes when they are in “the zone.” Sida rhombifolia contains both PEA and ephedrine, hence its use as a mood enhancer.
Depression.
Mentalinstability; delirium; insanity.
Irritability.
REPRODUCTIVE
In India, Bala root is prepared with oil and boiled milk, and then used room temperature as a douche for sterility. It is also taken internally for the same purpose.
Urinary tract infections: Add Bidens pilosa (kïnehi), Plantago spp. (laukahi). With blood in the urine: add Capsella rubella (shepherds purse).
CROSS-CULTURAL COMBINATIONS:
Dysentery or enteritis: With Plantago major (laukahi) or Polygonum hydropiper [China].
Jaundice: Decocted with Desmodium stryacifolium (jin qian cao) and Saururus chinensis [China].
Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis: With meat as food [China].
RANGE: Temperate, tropical and subtropical areas in over 70 countries. Native to Europe.
HABITAT: From 0 to 3600′.
PROPAGATION & CULTIVATION: By seed. Scarify (acid, heat, or cold storage) and plant at 1 to 2 cm. One Sida rhombifolia can produce more than 11,000 seeds.
RESEARCH:
Water extracts of the whole plant were liver protective in rats [Rao 1997].
Methanol extracts of the aerial parts suppressed edema in rats [Rao 1997].
Stops pain and is anti- inflammatory [Venkatesh 1999].
Weakly antibacterial and cytotoxic to cancer cells [Islam 2003].
REFERENCES:
Islam ME, Haque ME, Mosaddik MA. 2003. Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) grown in Bangladesh. Phytother Res. Sep;17(8):973-5.
Li Ninghan, et al. 1976. Chinese Medicinal Herbs of Hong Kong. Volumes 1-5. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Commercial Press, Ltd. (Shang Wu Yin Shu Guan, Xiang Gang You Xian Gong Si)
Li Ninghan, et al. 1994. Chinese Medicinal Herbs of Hong Kong. Volume 6. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Commercial Press, Ltd. (Shang Wu Yin Shu Guan, Xiang Gang You Xian Gong Si)
Rao KS, SH Mishra. 1997. Anti-inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Activities of Sida rhombifolla Linn. Indian Journal of Pharmacology; 29: 110-116
Venkatesh S, Reddy YS, Suresh B, Reddy BM, Ramesh M. 1999. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of Sida rhomboidea leaves. J Ethnopharmacol. Nov 1;67(2):229-32.
