shala

Shorea robusta
Shala
As pain reliever
Active components: tannic principles
Mode of action in pain: it is astringent in taste. It balances pitta and kapha and also vata.
Any kind of pain in the body is mainly related to imbalance of vata along with other
doshas. Hence once the vata is balanced it also helps in reduction of the pain. It has the
action on nervous system also and thus helps in pacifying the pain. It is effective in
traumatic pain or pain due to any wound.
Boswellia serrataShallakiActive components: serratol, boswellic acid, galactoseMode of action as analgesic and anti inflammatory: it is pungent, bitter, and sweet in taste. It helps in balancing pitta and kapha and also regulates vata. In arthritic condition most of the times patients complain of pain, swelling and inflammation in the joints. Here the increased vata takes kapha towards the weak joints and creates obstruction over that site resulting in swelling due to obstruction. Pitta also increases at that site resulting in inflammation of the joints. Hence in such a case shallaki helps in pacifying the aggravated vata releasing the obstruction of kapha and helps in reduction of swelling and by pacifying the aggravated pitta at that site it subsides the inflammation of the joint and hence it is good analgesic anti-inflammatory medicine.
Sida cardifolia
Bala
Active components: ecdysterone
Ecdysterone works by increasing nitrogen retention and increasing protein synthesis at
the cellular level while also increasing strength and endurance. Since increased nitrogen
retention and resistance training will stimulate muscle growth it is without a doubt, that
ecdysterone does work. Sida cardifolia contains alkoloids and ephedrine which acts as
rejuvenative.
Mode of action in strength: it is sweet in taste and helps in balancing all 3 doshas. Due to
its sweet taste it increases the amount of 7 dhatus or tissues in the body. Basically it helps
in nourishing the Shukra dhatu (sperm) and mans dhatu (flesh). As the mansa dhatu
(flesh) is nourished and as it helps in nourishing and growth of the body. Bala helps in
strengthening and rejuvenating the body.
Hemedismus indicusSarivaActive components: phytosterols, desinin, rutin, triterpenesPlant sterols and plant stanols are collectively known as phytosterols. Structurally these compounds are chemically similar to that of cholesterol. However unlike cholesterol derived from animal sources –which absorbs easily and raises the body’s own cholesterol levels- phytosterols are present only at very low levels in the body because they are difficult to absorb. Interestingly, phytosterols so closely resemble cholesterol that they can actually block food-based cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream. The
result is that both the phytosterols and dietary cholesterol end up excreted in waste
matter. Because of their ability to block dietary cholesterol absorption, phytosterols can
help lower cholesterol levels.
Specifically, phytosterols may help to:
Prevent heart disease. By lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Ease enlarged prostrate.
Calm inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Control blood sugar in diabetes.
Sariva
Mode of action as coolant: it is sweet, bitter in taste and helps in balancing all 3 doshas.
Body heat is increased due to imbalance of vata and pitta when body tissues (dhatus) start
undergoing combustion the heat in the body is increased. Due to which the burning
sensation in body is noticed. Sariva helps in pacifying the increased vata and pitta in the
first to dhatus rasa (extra cellular fluid) Rakta (blood) by its sweet and bitter taste and
thus acts as a cooling agent in the body.
Andrographis panicullta
Active principles: andrographaloide, andrographin
Andrographaloide, chief constituent extracted from the leaves of the plant, is exhibiting
protective effects in hepatopathy. Andrographaloide is also associated with liver
protection activities. The hepatoprotective action of andrographaloide is related to
activity of certain metabolic enzymes.
Bhunimba
Mode of action on alcoholic liver disease: It is bitter in taste and helps in balancing kapha
and pitta. Mainly in alcoholic liver disorder there is imbalance of kapha and pitta.
Increase kapha creates the obstruction in the bile duct which obstructs the flow of bile
(correlated with pitta). Hence the pitta remains stagnant in the gall bladder and has no
space to move which also increases the amount of pitta. Due to this the size of liver is
enlarged. Hence bhoonimba helps in cleansing the obstruction created by kapha by
reducing kapha which in turn facilitates proper flow of pitta. It also acts as laxative and
helps in eliminating out the excess pitta in the body through urine and stools and balance
the pitta level in the body. As the obstruction is cleared the function of liver is improved
and the enlarged liver regains its normal size.
Embelia ribes
Vidanga
Active components: embellin, quecitol, tannin, vilagin
Vidanga
Mode of action as carminative: Vidanga is pungent in taste. Hence it balances vata and
kapha. When digestive system is not functioning properly it leads to indigestion and
bloating of stomach which is due to increased vata. As vidanga is pungent in taste it helps in passing the excess of vata trapped in the digestion tract. Thus it has a good carminative action.

Source: http://www.healthandayurveda.com/anhc_pdf/Shala.pdf