Saussurea – Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses and Dosage (Indian Costus)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Saussurea scientific name is Saussurea lappa, some other common names are costus, kuth, kustha, Amaya. It is one of the 11 ingredients in the Ketoret incense mentioned in the Talmud. The Romans used it both in culinary spices and perfume. Theophrastus listed it as one of the principal plants in perfumes of the time. Pliny mentions two varieties of costus, white and black. The white variety was considered more fragrant and came from an Arabic plant, Costus Specious Syn Arabica. The root which is the source of incense is yellow and the bark is white.

In traditional medicinal systems, it is used as a tonic, carminative, and stimulant, as well as a good remedy for the treatment of asthmatic spasms, chronic skin diseases, rheumatism, cough, cholera, scabious itching and incurable sores.

2. Common Names 

• Synonyms: Saussurea costus
• Family: Asteraceae
• Hindi Name: Kooth
• English Name: Costus Root

3. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Kudo
• Gujarati – Kudu
• Kannada – Changal Kustha
• Arabi – Kuste
• Marathi – Upleta
• Malayalam – Kottam
• Tamil – Goshtam
• Telugu – Changalva
• Urdu – Minal
• Punjabi – Kuth

4. Synonyms

• Kustha - The drug is useful in leprosy/skin diseases.
• Rogahwaya - It cures all types of diseases.
• Vapya - It grows in cold and marshy places.
• Paribhavya - The drug is considered a safeguard from disease.
• Pakala - It protects from diseases.
• Ruk - It can be used freely without any doubt.

5. Classic Categorization

• Charak Samhita - Lekhaniya
• Sushruta Samhita - Eladi
• Dhanwantari Nighantu - Chandanadi Varga
• Madanpal Nighantu - Abhayadi Varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu - Aushadhi Varga
• Raj Nighantu - Chandanadi Varga
• Bhavaprakash Nighantu - Haritakyadi Varga

6. Morphology 

It is a tall, stout herb having an annual stem and perennial roots, it has large heart-shaped leaves, bluish, bluish-purple, or almost black flowers, and hairy fruits. The dried roots of the plant constitute the drug.

7. Chemical Constituent

The roots of the plant contain an essential oil, alkaloid saussurine, and a bitter resin. The resinoid, on distillation with superheated steam under reduced pressure yields essential oil. However, essential oil contains terpenes, aplotaxene, and sesquiterpenes. Costus is rich in resinoids, inulin, alkaloids, tannins, and sugars. Sesquiterpene lactones have been reported to be the major phytochemicals of this species. In Ayurveda, costus is an ancient rasayana, mentioned in the Atharvaveda as a remedy for excess jvara. Kushta was considered a divine plant, derived from heavenly sources because it grows high soma.

8. Identity, Purity and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 4%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 12%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 20%

9. Ayurvedic Properties 

1. Rasa (Taste): It has bitter (Tikta) taste.

2. Virya (Potency): It is hot in nature (Ushna).

3. Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is pungent (Katu).

10. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Action

The main actions are antitussive, antiasthmatic, antipyretic, antidermatosis, wound healing, rejuvenation, cleansing, and fat reduction. 

• Doshakarma: Vata Kaphahara
• Dhatukarma: Shukrashodhan, Vajikaran
• Malakarma: Mutrala

Pharmacological Action

The pharmacological actions are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic.

11. Health Benefits 

It is used in gout, erysipelas, bronchial asthma, cough, throat infection, skin disease, fever, worm infestation, hic-cough, and itching.

12. Therapeutic Uses

Abdominal Lump: Sarjikhshara, Indian Costus and Saindhava are mixed and given with warm water.

Premature Greying of Hair: The dried and powdered root of the herb used as hair wash prevents premature greying of hair.

Ulcers: Saussurea is useful for severe ulcerations, the dried and powdered root is the principal ingredient in any astringent and stimulant ointment.

Rheumatism: the dried rootstock mixed with mustard oil, and the paste obtained is applied locally to treat rheumatism.

Rejuvenation: Indian Costus is used as rasayana.

13. Official Part Used

Root

14. Dose

Powder: 500mg to 1g.

15. Formulations

Kushtadi taila, Kushtadi churna, Dashamularista, SArivadyasava, Narayana taila.

16. Side Effects 

The large dose of the extract causes giddiness, headache, and drowsiness.