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Costus Root: Top 9 Health Benefits (Latest Findings)

Costus, or Kuth, with the scientific name Saussurea costus or Saussurea lappa, is a thistle species that is native to South Asia, especially in Jammu, Kashmir, the Himalayas, the Kishenganga Valley, and the Western Ghats.

This gorgeous perennial plant is characterized by purple floret heads and long lyrate leaves. The costus root is about a human finger’s size with a woody part that is yellowish.

Costus root is used in Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of skin diseases, gout, and respiratory disorders.

It is also known as Mokko, Kushtha, spiral ginger, Aplotaxis lappa, or Tabubungiau in the Philippines.

Health Benefits of Costus Root - Costus flowerOther vernacular names include:

  • English – Kuth, Indian Costus Root
  • Hindi – Kuth
  • Tamil – Koshtham
  • Telugu – Kushtam, Changaluva-Kosthu
  • Malayalam – Seyuddi, Kottam
  • Gujarathi – Upalet, Kudu
  • Bengali – Kood
  • Arabic – Kuste
  • Farsi – Kust-E-Talkh
  • Kannada – Koshta
  • Chinese – Mu Xiang

Contents

History

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Costus has been mentioned in history many times and is believed to have been used in medicine for thousands of years.

Pliny, the first-century writer, described the plants as having a most exquisite odor and causing a burning taste in the mouth. He also added that the branches are useless.

Dioscorides, in his Materia Medica, wrote that costus has aphrodisiac qualities. Moreover, since ancient times, costus was traded from India and was also mentioned by Oribasius, Strabo, Theophrastus, and others.

Costus, which was used in medicine, was also used to add a spicy flavor to wine.

Growing Costus

Health Benefits of Costus Root - Costus plantCostus plant grows in high altitudes in the Kashmir region, the Himalayas, and in parts of China. The root’s oil and the root itself are used to manufacture medicine. The leaves can also be used to treat skin conditions like eczema and itching.

To obtain costus oil, the dried root of costus is chopped and softened in warm water. It is then distilled with steam. The resulting yellow-brown fluid mixture, which has a musty aroma, is then extracted.

Costus plant’s root is ridged, wrinkled, and stout. When dried, costus has a yellow or gray color, a diameter of 1 to 3 centimeters, and a length of about 8 to 12 centimeters.

Aside from oil, the dried costus root can also be made into a powder to treat medical conditions. The dosage that is considered safe is 0.2 to 1 gram.

Health Benefits of Costus Root

  1. Skin diseases like itching and eczema
  2. Paralysis
  3. Low immunity and cold cough
  4. Nerve weakness
  5. Low blood pressure
  6. Intestinal parasites
  7. Irregular periods, painful periods, and scanty menses
  8. Fever
  9. Other skin ailments like non-healing wounds, acne, and pimples

Costus contains organic acids and essential oil.

The oil contains costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, costuslactone, saussureal, alantolactone, o-cyclocostunolide, isozaluzanin, and many others.

Health Benefits of Costus Root - Amino acidsThe organic acids contain 20 types of amino acids that include glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, citrulline, and many others.

Moreover, costus contains other substances like saussureanine, cholamine, syringin, picriside B, etc. Such substances contribute to costus’ many healing benefits, including the healing of certain medical conditions like:

Saussurea lappa is also used as an alternative, all-natural holistic remedy to treat chronic persistent hepatitis and anicteric hepatitis.

Costus-based formulas also treat diarrhea-predominant IBS-D (irritable bowel syndrome), peptic ulcers, flatulence, colic, bacillary dysentery, infantile enteritis, and cholecystitis.

Costus root’s contemporary pharmacological actions are:

  • It can promote digestive juice secretion.
  • It contains bio-directional effects, particularly inhibitory or excitatory, on the gastrointestinal tract.
  • It can relax the smooth tracheal muscle.
  • It promotes fibrinolysis and is a diuretic.
  • It can stop the growth and spread of staphylococcus albus, staphylococcus aureus, and streptococcus.
  • It antagonizes acute injury to the gastric mucosa by promoting gastric emptying and speeding up gastrointestinal motility.

Energetics

Health Benefits of Costus Root - Ayurvedic healthSome of costus’ Ayurvedic uses and characteristics include:

  • Energetics – heating
  • Taste – bitter, pungent
  • Effect on the doshas – Costus balances both kapha and vata
  • Element – fire

In Ayurveda, costus plant oil is also used in massage to balance vata and the essential oil blends well with opopanax, patchouli, ylang ylang, or any other oil with floral or oriental fragrances.

The oil and powder derived from the costus root are antispasmodic, antiseptic, bactericidal, antiviral, digestive, carminative, expectorant, hypotensive, febrifuge, tonic, stomachic, and stimulant.

Health Benefits of Costus Root - Fragrances and perfumesAside from being used in medicine, costus oil can also be used as a component in perfumes and fragrances, a fixative, and incense.

Even though costus is not directly added to dishes when cooking, it is nevertheless used in the food industry. The essential oil is a flavor ingredient, especially in soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and confectionery.

Moreover, the humble costus plant, Saussurea lappa has everything you need to cure yourself of certain diseases and holds great value in Ayurveda.

Side Effects and Risks

Costus may lower blood sugar, so it’s important that individuals suffering from blood disorders not take it. Also, pregnant or lactating mothers should beware.

As always, consult your primary care physician before embarking on any treatment or remedy involving herbal supplements.

Where to Buy Costus

It’s impossible to find the plant outside of its native growing regions, but costus supplements and therapeutic grade essential oils are readily available. You can also buy dried powder and capsules with costus extract.

More clinical trials and studies are needed for this Ayuervedic medicinal plant. We’re working to get this article translated into Malayalam and Tamil, along with other Indian languages.




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