Skip to content

Indian costus root

The Indian costus root(Saussurea costus), also known as kingwort, costus and costus root, is a plant species from the composite family. The root and the oil produced from the root of this plant are used to make medicine. Indian costus root is used to treat worm infections with nematodes. The oil extracted from the Indian costus root is used to treat asthma, coughs, flatulence and serious intestinal diseases such as dysentery and cholera. It is also used as a tonic and to stimulate digestion. In food and beverages, the oil produced from Indian costus root is used as a flavoring agent, and in industrial production, the oil extracted from Indian costus root is used as a binding agent and fragrance in cosmetics.

How does Indian costus root work?

Indian costus root contains chemicals that appear to kill worms (nematodes). Some scientists believe that the chemicals contained in the oil extracted from Indian costus root can prevent constriction of the airways, which can lower blood pressure.

How effective is Indian costus root?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Indian costus root in the treatment of worm infections caused by nematodes. In children, Indian costus root appears to reduce the number of worm eggs in the feces as well as treatment with the drug pyrantel pamoate. The reduction in the number of worm eggs is a measure of the effectiveness of the treatment. There is also insufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of Indian costus root for digestive problems, flatulence, asthma, cough, dysentery and cholera. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Indian costus root in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Indian costus root appears to be safe and harmless for most people. However, Indian costus root often contains an impurity known as aristolochic acid. Aristolochic acid damages the kidneys and causes cancer. For this reason, you should only use products that are certified free of aristolochic acid.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of Indian costus root during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Indian costus root. Allergies to broomrape and related plants: Indian costus root could cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and many others. If you suffer from allergies, you should consult your doctor before taking Indian costus root.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between Indian costus root and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Indian costus root depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Indian costus root. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Akhtar MS, Riffat S. Field trial of Saussurea lappa roots against nematodes and Nigella sativa seeds against cestodes in children. J Pak Med Assoc 1991;41:185-7.