Kushta or Indian costus root is a famous Ayurvedic herb used in treating gout, skin diseases, respiratory disorders etc. Its botanical name is Saussurea lappa.
Botanical Name– Saussurea lappa C.B Clarke, Saussurea costus
Family – Asteraceae – Bhrungaraja Kula
Table of Contents
Vernacular Names
Hindi Name– Kuth,
English Name- Indian Costus root, Kuth
Telugu– Changaluva- Kosthu, Kushtam
Tamil Name- Koshtam
Malayalam Name– Kottam, Seyuddi
Bengali name – Kood
Gujarati name – Kudu, Upalet
Kannada name – Koshta
Farsi name – Kust-E-Talkh
Arabic name – Kuste
Sanskrit Synonyms
Utpala – grows in moist places
Kashmira – grows in Kashmir,
Vapya – Found near water resources
paribhavya – It is effective in many disorders
Gada, Agada, Ama, Amaya, Kapalam, Kouderam, Japyam, Tvakdosa, Divya, Durnama, Padmaka, Paribhadraka, Mansanjnaka, Ramam, Ruk, Rogahva.
Classical Categorization
Charaka–
Sukrasodhana – group of herbs that cleanse semen, corrects sperm morphology
Lekhaniya – group of herbs that have scraping, fat reducing activity
Asthapanopaga – group of herbs used in Basti treatment.
Sushruta and Vagbhata – Eladi Gana
Bh. Pr. Ni – Haritakyadi varga
Distribution
Kashmir and Alpine Himalayan ranges at 8,000- 12,000 feet
Morphology
Habit- Erect, robust, perennial herb, 25 to 180 cm high.
Root-Stout, up to 60 cm long, brownish with longitudinal streaks and furrows with reticulate surface, having characteristic odor.
Leaves- Simple, alternate, membranous, glabrate beneath, irregularly toothed
Inflorescence- Head, 2 cm long in axillary terminal clusters, bluish purple, hard, rounded, 3 to 5 cm in diameter.
Fruit- Achenes about 3 mm long, curved, compressed. Pappus about 1.7 cm long, feathery and brown.
Major chemical constituents
Essential oil, costol, taraxas- terol, costunolide, Dehydro constuhactone, alpha- Cyclocostunolide, sitosterol, Sesquiterpenes, Ar- curcumene, isodihydrocostuslacttone, costol- lactone etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)
Medicinal qualities
Rasa (taste) – Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent), Madhura (sweet)
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Rooksha (dryness), Teekshna (piercing, reaches deep tissues)
Virya– Ushna – hot potency
Effect on Tridosha
Because of its bitter and pungent tastes, it balances Kapha and because of its sweet taste and hot potency, it balances Vata.
Part Used
Root
Adulterants
Inula royleana
Cardus nutans
Euphorbia thomsoniana
Aconitum heterophyllum
Costus specious
Arctium lappa
Sanskrit verse
Therapeutic benefits
Of all the herbs used in external application and oil massage for Vata balance, Kushta herb is the best. Hence it is the main ingredient in pain relieving oils – Kottamchukkadi taila, Narayan Oil, Bala Tel
It is used for external application in headache, tooth ache, osteo-arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and balding.
Shukrala – increases sperm count
Vatasrahara – useful in gout treatment
Visarpa – useful in herpes
Kasahara – relieves cough, cold
Kushtahara – useful in skin diseases
Shwasahara – useful in asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases
Hikkahara – relieves hiccups
Jwarahara – useful in fever
It is used in the treatment of epilepsy
It is hepato-protective (protects liver against degeneration)
It is a good anti-viral herb
The oil extracted from Costus root is also used for anti inflammatory and pain relieving purposes.
It helps to lower blood pressure.
Dosage
Dosage– Powder 1-2 grams in divided doses per day, is the maximum safe dose for this herb.
Research articles
Efficacy in Ischemic heart disease
Side effects and precautions
Pregnant and lactating mothers should seek medical advice before taking this herb.
People with high BP should take extra precaution, as this herb can lower BP.
Interaction with medicines, supplements
Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.
Can
this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets,
Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most
of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product
per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.
With western
medicines
Seek your
doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western
(allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern
medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is
best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the
Ayurvedic medicine.
Use as dusting powder
Indian Costus root as dusting powder:
Charaka explained Kushta as one among Avachurnana dravya, along with herbs like Musta, Vidanga, Sarjarasa, Lodhra, Daru haridra etc. The body of the patient is smeared with sesame oil. Then the body is dusted with the above powder mix. Dusting process is called Avachurnana.
It relieves Kitibha – ringworm, Kandu – pruritus, Pama – keloids, Vicharchika – Eczema. Reference: (Charaka Sutrasthana 5th chapter)
Use for external application
Paste prepared with costus root along with Tagara, dill seeds, Licorice, sandalwood and ghee is used to apply externally to relieve headache, shoulder and back pain. Reference: Charaka Samhita Rajayakshma Chikitsa.