Kushta – Saussurea lappa

Introduction

It is commonly known as Costus root. It is an important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda as it is used to cure so many disorders especially in skin related diseases. The plant got the name Kushta as the drug useful in leprosy or skin diseases. It is also known as Agada as it protects health by keeping free from diseases. It is also known as Vapya as the plant grows in watery or marshy places.

Kushta can also be used for diseases like hepatitis, jaundice, splenomegaly, cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, paralysis, tremors, epilepsy, hysteria, arthritis, chronic rheumatism, sciatica, gout, intestinal worms, amenorrhea, fevers, malaria, leucoderma, erysipelas, ring worm, chronic itching, scabies, dysentery, dyspepsia, cholera, alopecia etc.

Action of Kushta–Saussurea lappa in Allergies

IAFA has been conducting various studies on Kushta to found out the antiallergic and antiinflammatory properties of the plant. The plant contains costunolide, lactones, costunolide, Isodihydrocostunolide, cynaropicrin sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones; other compounds include glycosides, anthraquinones, chlorogenic acid, β-costic acid, daucosterol, β-sitosterol, and saussureamines. These chemical constituents present in the plant Kushta helps in antiallergic activities of the plant.

Vernacular Names

Native Names
Sanskrit Name Kushta, Vapya
Hindi Name Kut, Kushta
English Name Indian Costus tree
Malayalam Name Kottam 
Kannada Name Changalkoshtha 
Telungu Name Changalva koshtu


Botanical Name

Saussurea lappa

Family

Asteraceae

Morphology of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

  • Perennial herb
  • Stem – erect, simple
  • Leaves – membraneous irregularly toothed
  • Stem leaves are smaller in size
  • Flowers – bluish coloured, arranged as axillary or terminal clusters
  • Fruits – compressed, curved tip narrowed and cupped

Ayurveda reference of Kushta – Saussurea lappa

Ayurveda reference of Kushta – Saussurea lappa

Geographical distribution of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

It is distributed in Kashmir and different parts of India like Western ghats uttarpradesh , Tamilnadu, Kerala etc.

Phytoconstituents of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

Root contains resinoids, resins,  essential oil, alkaloids, saussurine , kushtin, inulin, valeric acid, sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene, Costunolide,  primary sesquiterpene lactone, dehydrocostus lactone, dihydro-dehydrocostus lactone, camphene, costol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, betulin, aplotaxene, β- selinine, β-elemene, α and β-ionones, a bicyclic sesquiterpenic acid, phellanderine, C13-ketone and certain unidentified constituent’s including hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols.

Parts used of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

  • Root

Dosage of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

  • Powder (churna)- 0.5 -1 gm

Medicinal Properties of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

  • Sukrala – Increases sperm count
  • Vatasrahara – Useful in gout 
  • Visarpa – Useful in herpes
  • Kasahara – Useful in cough
  • Kushtahara – Useful in skin diseases
  • Jvarahara – Useful in fever 
  • Hikkahara – Useful in hiccups
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Home remedies of Kushta –Saussurea lappa

  • Ayurveda is purely based on naturally available herbs for treatment purposes. Kushta is an easily available plant and can be used to treat diseases like,
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (Amavata)– 2 gm of powder of Kushta is given along with 1 table spoon of Eranda taila for 7 days.
  • Headache (Sirasula)- 2 gm of powder of Kushta is taken along with ghee and honey for 3 days.
  • Worm infestation (Krumi roga)- 3 gm of powder of Kushta is taken along with ghee and honey for 7 days.
  • Hiccups (Hikka)- Powder of kushta is covered by cloth and made into a ignited at one end and inhale the 
  • Swelling (Sotha)-  Paste of Kushta  is made with rose water and applied over affected area, remove after 20 minutes.
  • Memory (Medhya) – 2 gm of kushta powder and Vacha mixed with honey and Ghee. It should be taken in the early morning before food.
  • Skin diseases(Kushta)- kushta powder mixed with ghee or butter and applied over affected area.
  • Cough (Kasa)- 2 gm of kushta powder is taken along with warm water for 2 days.
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Dr. Gupta’s IAFA is one of the wounderful organisation to provide safe,pure and non toxic Ayurvedic medicines. Our treatment protocols are strictly based on pure Ayurvedic principles. We mainly focus on alleviating allergic disorders by using naturally available herbs which have less to no side effects. We make sure the safety of our customers by subjecting our products to various tests. 

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Dr. Sahil Gupta completed his Bachelor of Ayurveda in Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) and Master’s Degree in Health Administration (MHA) India. He is Registered Ayurvedic Doctor & Vaidya in India having Registration No. 23780. He is the CEO and founder of IAFA. After completing BAMS, Dr. Sahil Gupta started practicing Ayruveda by giving prime importance to allergic disorders management. He became the first Ayurvedic doctor to cure Food Allergies through Ayurveda. Read More About Dr. Sahil Gupta.

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