Saussurea costus
Encyclopedia
Saussurea costus is a plant in the family Asteraceae
. Its root
was known as costus to the ancient world. The root is also known as putchock, puchuk, koshet , Kuth, Kut, Koot or Kushta (Ayurveda
).
and perfume
ingredient for thousands of years and is mentioned in rabbi
nical writings as koshet , reflecting its arrowhead
shape. It was used in Ketoret
which is used when referring to the consecrated incense
described in the Hebrew Bible
and Talmud
. It is also referred to as the HaKetoret (the incense). It was offered on the specialized incense altar in the time when the Tabernacle
was located in the First
and Second
Jerusalem Temples. The ketoret was an important component of the Temple service in Jerusalem.
, the root is one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It has the name .
It forms a main ingredient in the Chinese pastille rods known as joss sticks. It is also used as incense.
the name Kushta refers to an ancient Vedic plant god mentioned in the Atharvaveda as a remedy for takman, the archetypal disease of excess or jvara (fever).
In ancient India Kushta was considered to be a divine plant derived from heavenly sources, growing high in the Himalayas
, considered to be the brother of the divine Soma
. In Ayurveda Kushta is a rasayana
for Vata, helping to normalize and strengthen digestion, cleanse the body of toxic accumulations, enhance fertility, and reduce pain. In India it is also given as a medicine for cough, asthma, fever, and cholera. Its dried powder is the principal ingredient in an ointment for ulcers; it is also a hair wash.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. Its root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
was known as costus to the ancient world. The root is also known as putchock, puchuk, koshet , Kuth, Kut, Koot or Kushta (Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
).
Root properties
The root of Saussurea costus is a bitter tasting herb that acts on the liver and gall bladder, stimulating bile synthesis and excretion, and acts as a carminative to ease cramping and intestinal colic.Ancient Israel
The root of Saussurea costus has been used as an incenseIncense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
and perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
ingredient for thousands of years and is mentioned in rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
nical writings as koshet , reflecting its arrowhead
Arrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
shape. It was used in Ketoret
Ketoret
The use of incense in Judaism was related to perfumed offerings on the altar of incense in the time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple period, and was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem....
which is used when referring to the consecrated incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
described in the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
and Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
. It is also referred to as the HaKetoret (the incense). It was offered on the specialized incense altar in the time when the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
was located in the First
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
and Second
Second Temple period
The Second Temple period , in Jewish history, is the period between 530 BCE and 70 CE, when the Second Temple of Jerusalem existed. It ended with the First Jewish–Roman War and the Temple's destruction....
Jerusalem Temples. The ketoret was an important component of the Temple service in Jerusalem.
China
In traditional Chinese medicineTraditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
, the root is one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It has the name .
It forms a main ingredient in the Chinese pastille rods known as joss sticks. It is also used as incense.
Tibet
In Tibet the root was and is used extensively as incense and medicine.India
In AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
the name Kushta refers to an ancient Vedic plant god mentioned in the Atharvaveda as a remedy for takman, the archetypal disease of excess or jvara (fever).
In ancient India Kushta was considered to be a divine plant derived from heavenly sources, growing high in the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, considered to be the brother of the divine Soma
Soma
Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
. In Ayurveda Kushta is a rasayana
Rasayana
Rasayan, a Sanskrit word , is used to describe chemistry and alchemy, and chemistry is generally called Rasayan Shastra in Sanskrit, Nepali, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada and several other languages.Ancient rasayan texts center around the use of prepared forms of mercury or cinnabar , as do...
for Vata, helping to normalize and strengthen digestion, cleanse the body of toxic accumulations, enhance fertility, and reduce pain. In India it is also given as a medicine for cough, asthma, fever, and cholera. Its dried powder is the principal ingredient in an ointment for ulcers; it is also a hair wash.
Etymology
“Costus” in Greek means “from the East” referring to the Indian lower Himalaya from where the spice was imported into Rome and Greece.See also
- Chinese herbology 50 fundamental herbs Costus rhizome is used for curing woolen cloth in hill area of Uttarakhand
- Aucklandia lappaAucklandia lappaAucklandia lappa is a plant whose rhizome is commonly used in Traditional Chinese medicine. Compounds in the rhizome are thought to have anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties...
, also known as “costus”
External links
- Saussurea costus pictures at Google Images
- Genus Saussurea phytochemical and pharmacological: Yang J.L. Wang R. Liu L.L. Shi Y.P. “Phytochemicals and biological activities of Saussurea species. [Review]” [153 refs] Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 12(2):162-75, 2010 Feb.
- Saussurea costus Plants for a Future Contains a detailed monograph on Saussurea lappa (Kushta) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/300-kushta