Costus root essential oil also known as Dolomiaea costus, formerly known as Saussurea costus, commonly known as costus, Indian costus, kuth, or putchuk, is a species of thistle in thegenus Dolomiaea native to South Asia and China. Rishi (Hindu) mystics of Kashmir especially ate this plant. Essential oils extracted from the root have been used in traditional medicine and in perfumes since ancient times.[rx][rx]
Costus is the plant of genus Saussurea belonging to the family Asteraceae. This herb is also known as put Schock, kush, Yun Mu Xiang, Qing Mu Xiang, Radix Aucklandiae, radix Saussurea lappa, puck, kosher, kuth, costusroot, costus root, root, kut Aucklandia Root and Guang Mu Xing. It is a perennial plant that grows upto the height of 1.5-2 meters. The essential oil is extracted from the roots of the Costus plant through the steam distillation method. The oil has a delicate, warm, and soft odor. This essential oil is used in incenses, perfumes and is also used as a hair rinse. Other common names for this essential oil areKuth oil, Costus oil, Costus root oil, Costus root essential oil, Costus Root Absolute, and Mu Xiang oil. It consists of dehydrocostus lactone, Saussurea, costunolide, α-cyclocostunolide, costuslactone, isozaluzanin, and alantolactone.
| Name | Costus root essential oil facts and health benefits |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Saussurea lappa |
| Native | It is originated in India. |
| Common/English Name | Kuth oil, Costus oil, Costus root oil, Costus root essential oil, Costus Root Absolute, Mu Xiang oil |
| Name in Other Languages of Plant | Hindi: Kuth; English: Kuth, Indian Costus root; Telugu: Kushtam, Changaluva – Kosthu; Tamil: Koshtam; Malayalam: Seyuddi, Kottam; Bengali name: Kood; Gujarathi: Update, Kudu; Kannada: Koshta; Farsi: Kust-E-Talkh; Arabi: Kuste |
| Extraction Method | Steam distillation |
| Color | Pale yellow-brownish yellow |
| Odor | Soft, warm, delicate |
| Aroma | Musky, woody |
Health benefits of Costus root essential oil
Costus root essential oil has a woodsy and grainy smell in a yellow or light brown color. It possesses antiseptic, antiviral, antispasmodic, bactericidal, digestive, carminative, expectorant, hypotensive, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic, and stomachic properties. It is used as a flavoring agent in alcoholic drinks, confectionery, and soft drinks.
Antioxidants do for your skin
Costus root essential oil is a powerful antioxidant. I mean very powerful. It’s thanks to its unique chemical content which consists of dehydrocostus lactone, Saussurea, costunolide, α-cyclocostunolide, costuslactone, isozaluzanin, and alantolactone. Several of these chemical compounds are prominent antioxidants. But what does that mean? How do antioxidants work? Well, as the name suggests, antioxidants prevent oxidation. They make sure that none of your cells, tissues, or organs get oxidized because oxidation can lead to severe damage on the structural level. This oxidative damage is caused by harmful little molecules in our body called free radicals. So basically, Costus root essential oil protects us from free radicals. But what exactly can those little molecules do? It depends on their location. For example, free radicals in your heart can lead to ischemia, heart diseases, heart attacks, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and even death of parts of the heart muscle. Free radicals in your lungs can lead to respiratory problems and chronic lung diseases. If they were to visit your kidneys, you’d be liable to acute or chronic kidney failure. In other words, free radicals are trouble which makes us in dire need of something like Costus root essential oil.
Your skin needs Costus root essential oil even more than your heart, lungs or kidneys. It’s one of the most vulnerable organs when it comes to free radicals. It’s also the organ that shows the aftermaths of free radicals the most. All it takes is one look at your skin and you’ll be able to know if it’s under attack. Do you see all those lines and ages spots? All that loose skin? All thanks to free radicals. Luckily, Costus root essential oil can make them all go away. It protects your skin from all those pesky little trouble makers that shred away at your skin layers and eat up all your collagen. Once they destroy your collagen, your skin’s backbone, and support system, you begin to notice all the wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. But not anymore, not with Costus root essential oil.
Aids immune system
Costus root essential oil helps to strengthen the immune system by eliminating bacteria, bad germs, and infections. It is also helpful for asthma, bronchitis, and chronic coughs. It slightly increases the blood pressure and increases the contraction force and ventricles amplitude.
Assist digestion
Costus root essential oil clears the digestive tract and promotes digestion. The use of a couple of drops of this oil in a warm tea assists digestive functions.
Skin health
Costus root essential oil helps to slow down the aging process. It counteracts the free radicals that are the cause of lines, loose skin, and age spots. It is also helpful for the skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff. It helps to heal skin inflammation.
A Natural Ointment
This essential oil is known for its healing properties, making it an effective organic ointment for treating cuts, scratches, and scrapes. It can also be used to relieve pain that comes from bug bites, scabs, and ingrown toenails. The oil also has antibiotic components, which means that it prevents infections and bacteria from developing and spreading in open wounds.
These injuries are best treated immediately, regardless of their size, because an infection can develop in small wounds and eventually turn into something dangerous and difficult to treat. Costus root essential oil boasts of healing properties that make it an excellent treatment for scratches, cuts, scrapes, scabs, bug bites, and ingrown toenails. It stops bacteria from spreading in open wounds.
Expectorant And Stimulant
This essential oil can also work wonders for the immune system. The oil strengthens the immune system, making it more potent at eliminating hazardous bacteria, germs, and infections. It’s also highly recommended if you are dealing with chronic cough or asthma.
Using a humidifier can also be beneficial to have a better night’s sleep. It provides additional moisture in the air. The fumes coming from the oil will enter your respiratory system, allowing you to breathe easier after just a short period.
Immune System Booster
It comes as a surprise to many that this essential oil also works as a terrific immune system booster, warding off infections, bacteria, and germs. The oil can also be used to treat asthma, cough, and bronchitis. Its use causes a slight increase in blood pressure and elevates the ventricles’ amplitude and contraction force at the same time.
The immune system consists of an elaborate network of cells, tissues, and organs working in cohesion to protect the body against harmful invaders. These foreign invaders usually come in the form of microbes, which are tiny living organisms, such as fungi, parasites, and bacteria, wreaking havoc inside the body. Viruses can also cause infections, but they are yet to be considered living organisms. These microbes thrive in the human body since it’s an ideal environment for them. The immune system plays an important role in keeping the microbes out of the body, even if it means killing and destroying them completely.
Ointment
The healing properties of Costus root essential oil help to treat scrapes, cuts, scratches, scabs, ingrown toenails, and bug bites. It eliminates bacteria and infections in open wounds.
Prevent cholera
The infusion made from 1 gram of cardamom, 3 grams of fresh Saussurea and 120 ml of water helps to treat this condition. It produces reflex inhibition due to stimulating properties. The depressant properties provide relief from this spasm.
Cure ulcers
Costus root essential oil helps to severe ulcers. The powdered and dried root is used as a stimulant and astringent ointment.
Against Worm Infestation
Kuth helps to manage worm infections due to its anthelmintic property. Infections are due to parasitic worms such as tapeworms, roundworms which cause ascariasis (an infection of the small intestine caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, a species of roundworm), and many other diseases in human beings.
Kuth suppresses the parasitic activity and removes the worms from the human body. This reduces the risk of infections. Kuth either stuns the worm or kills them. This leads to the stoppage of infection from spreading in various parts of the body.
Against Indigestion
According to Ayurveda, indigestion means the state of incomplete process of digestion. Kuth manages indigestion by improving the digestive fire. The main reason for indigestion is a drastic increase in Kapha that causes Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). Taking Kuth powder helps improve Agni (digestive fire) inside the body and digests the food easily.
Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties exhibited by this herb are certainly responsible for the prevention of indigestion.
From a modern scientific point of view, kuth has anthelmintic and antimicrobial properties. Because of this, it prevents the growth of bacteria in the large intestine and hence provides great relief from indigestion. Basically, it suppresses the activity of parasites in the body.
How to use it for indigestion is a question to many readers. So here is how we use kuth for indigestion:-
- Take few dried Kuth roots and grind them to make a powder.
- Take 4-8 pinches of this Kuth powder and make a mixture with organic honey
- Take this mixture once or twice a day after lunch and dinner to manage indigestion.
Against Flatulence
Kuth helps one to get relief from gas or flatulence. Flatulence is caused due to an imbalance of Vata and Pitta dosha. Depleted Pitta dosha and an aggravated Vata dosha cause low digestive fire, thus impairing digestion. Impaired digestion leads to gas or flatulence.
Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties present inKuth powder improves the digestive fire and corrects digestion. For gas formation, use the same way as described above (in case of digestion)
Kuth Against Asthma
Kuth not only gives relief in case of breathlessness but also helps to control the symptoms of asthma. According to Ayurveda, the main doshas involved in asthma are Vata and Kapha. The vitiated ‘Vata’ combined with deranged ‘Kapha dosha’ in the lungs causes an obstruction in the respiratory passage. This results in difficulty in breathing. This condition is known as Swas Roga (asthma). Kuth powder helps balances Vata and Kapha dosha and removes excess mucus from the lungs. This gives relief from the symptoms of asthma.
Kuth roots act as a muscle relaxant and an expectorant. It helps release the congestion of mucus from the lungs and clears the blockage in the air passages which helps ease breathing.
Against Dysentery
Kuth is useful in digestive disorders like dysentery. Dysentery is known as Pravahika in Ayurveda and is caused by vitiated Kapha and Vata doshas. Because of vata and Kapha’s balancing nature of Kuth, it helps to control and cure dysentery.
Kuth has antimicrobial properties. Hence it prevents the growth of certain disease-causing organisms in the large intestine. This helps in reducing abdominal pain and inflammation associated with dysentery.
Against Hair Loss
Alopecia is a condition of hair loss, which is not limited to the head but is related to hair loss taking place over the entire body. Patches are seen on the area which has been affected. Eyebrows, head, hands, and chest are a few common areas of hair loss as concerned in men. But such is used as a major component in the preparation of Bhringaraj oil. It is a natural remedy that is often used to promote hair growth, luster, and strength. It contains extract of false daisy and costus root oil. Thailand, China, Brazil, and India are the major markets where this oil has proved to be very effective amongst the customers. Pitta imbalance is treated by Bhringaraj oil.
Kuth For Healing Wounds
Kuth or its oil helps in decreasing swelling, quick healing of the wound, and bringing back the normal texture of the skin. Due to its Roman (healing) property, it also works on skin problems like cuts or wounds. It eliminates the bacterias and infections present on the open wound.
Against Paralysis
Kuth or Costus is used to cure paralysis. Take 0.5 gram to 1 gram of Saussurea costus root powder two times a day. Kuth powder removes the toxic element that slows down the blood circulation at different parts of the body. Hence, kuth increases blood flow throughout the body by removing these toxic substances. It also strengthens the weak nerve. This slowly improves the condition of the patient as his neural system can transmit signals at a normal pace.
Kuth For Scanty Periods
The scanty period is a condition where women experience menstrual cramping during their menstruation, but the flow is very light. This may lead to irregular cycles. The scanty quality indicates that the endometrium tissue is not being built in a healthy manner. To ensure a regular flow it is advisable to use kuth. Due to its vatasamak property costus is used in painful menses and for lack of or scanty periods due to stagnation in artavavahasrotas. It stimulates ovulation and promotes a regular cycle.
Tips to use kuth during painful periods:
- Take 1 to 2 grams of Saussurea costus root powder with honey/water twice a day for 15 days.
Speed up the healing process
The paste made from the roots helps to promote the healing process and prevent the chances of infections.
Traditional uses
- It supports digestion, clears toxins from the body, lowers pain, and promotes fertility.
- It is also used as a hair wash.
- It helps to treat respiratory ailments such as cough, asthma, and bronchitis.
- It helps to treat wounds, open cuts, pricks and also acts as an antiseptic.
- It is used in Ayurveda for curing arthritic conditions and inflammations.
- This oil is used to treat, asthma, cholera, gas, cough, typhoid, and dysentery.
- It is a treatment for vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and nausea.
- In Ayurveda, it is used to treat skin diseases and gout.
- It can help with digestion, detoxify the body, reduce pain, and improve fertility.
- It can be used as an effective hair wash
- Costus root essential oil can cure several types of respiratory problems such as cough, asthma, bronchitis, and COPD (chronic obstructive respiratory diseases).
- Acts as an antiseptic
- Helps treat flatulence, bloating, and gas.
- Effective against typhoid, cholera, and dysentery.
- Reduces nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and abdominal pain
- Mentioned as an effective cure for several skin diseases, as well as gout, in the Ayurveda.
Dosage And Usage Information
- Studies involving the use of kuth or kush ta ( known in Ayurveda ) in children reported that dosages of 40 mg/kg per day were well-tolerated.
- For an approximately 50kg adult, that would translate to 1.8 grams (1,800 milligrams) per day.
Saussurea powders and liquids are usually mixed with water or juice. They should be measured precisely with a measuring spoon or dropper (4-8 drops recommended). Saussurea root is commonly used to make tea.
Precautions
- The excessive use of Costus oil leads to obnoxious effects.
- It should be used in moderate amounts.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult the doctor for its use.
- People who are allergic to Asteraceae or Compositae plant family such as ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums, daisies, etc. should avoid it.
How to Eat
It is used to add flavor to an alcoholic, confectionary, and aerated drinks.
Other Facts
- It is usually blended with Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetivert, Violet, and Rose.
- It is used in body fragrances, massage oils, air fresheners, laundry detergents, oriental perfumes, perfumes, soap making, bath oils, diffusers, and hair treatments.
- It is used for fragrance in cosmetic products.
From Where To Buy
- HEALTH BENEFITS : It is used for several health benefits
- ENERGETICS : Some of costus Ayurvedic uses
or
- ✅【Results Backed by Scientific Research!】 - A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that 100% of the subjects saw a "statistically significant reduction” after taking Costus Igneus.
- ✅【Safe, All Natural!】 - All natural product. No artificial ingredients, binders, color additives, chemical, fillers or preservatives. The same study above found that none of the subjects reported any negative side effects from taking Costus Igneus.
- ✅【Great Value!】 - Each bottle contains 180 grams of Costus Igneus in 300 vegetarian capsules, which will last you 2 months. We’re here to help you fight this battle with a supplement that we’ve successfully tested and that has seen overwhelmingly positive results in scientific studies. This is a tremendous value for the price.
- ✅【Suggested Use!】- For the first 60 days, take five capsules (3g) in the morning before breakfast and another 5 capsules (3g) in the evening before dinner. After 60 days, take 5 capsules in the morning before breakfast
- ✅【Made in USA!】 - Our Costus Igneus vegetarian capsules (costus igneus capsules) are manufactured in a state of the art cGMP manufacturing facility in the USA adhering to the most stringent manufacturing standards.
References