Arrowleaf Sida (Mahabala)

Arrowleaf sida is an upright perennial shrub of the mallow family native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, and common in India. It has small, diamond-shaped, toothed leaves and solitary yellow flowers, and its stems yield a strong fibre.

Known as Mahabala in Sanskrit, its root is one of the Bala group of classical Ayurvedic herbs, used in traditional preparations and massage oils for joint comfort and strength. The root is the part used.