Costus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Costus |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dolomiaea
|
| Species: |
costus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Dolomiaea costus, also known as Saussurea costus, is a plant often called costus, Indian costus, kuth, or putchuk. It is a type of thistle plant. It grows naturally in South Asia and China. Long ago, some spiritual leaders in Kashmir used this plant. Special oils from its roots have been used in traditional medicine and perfumes for a very long time.
The part of the plant called "costus" is actually its root. This root is the main part used for health or natural remedies. It is also known by its Latin name, radix aucklandiae, which means "root of aucklandia".
This plant has many names in different languages. For example, it's called kuṣṭha in Sanskrit, kust or qust in Arabic and Persian, and mu xiang in Chinese.
Contents
About the Costus Plant
Dolomiaea costus is a plant that lives for many years. It usually grows about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) tall and 1 meter (3 feet) wide. It has long leaves and purple flowers. The leaves are shaped like a lyre (a musical instrument) at the bottom. They have jagged, toothed edges and are about 0.5 to 1.25 meters (1.5 to 4 feet) long. The roots are thick and can grow up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) long.
Where Costus Grows
You can usually find this plant in India at high places, about 2,500 to 3,000 meters (8,200 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. This includes the Himalayas, Kashmir, Jammu, and the Western Ghats.
It typically flowers from July to August, and its seeds are ready from August to September. The plant can grow in many types of soil, from light sandy soil to heavy clay. It prefers soil that is moist. It can grow in areas with some shade or in full sunlight.
Growing Costus
People grow Dolomiaea costus because it is a medicinal plant. It is mainly grown in India, especially in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir, where it comes from. Studies show that the plant grows better and its seeds sprout more easily at high altitudes. This is why it grows so well in the mountainous Himalayan region.
Farmers mostly focus on growing the roots of the plant. Many of these roots are sent to China and Japan. They are a big part of trade in Kashmir. However, the government now controls this trade because too much of the plant was being collected. This plant has been collected so much that it is now listed as an endangered species by CITES (a group that protects wildlife).
How Costus is Used
As a Spice
Long ago, a writer named Pliny said costus had a "burning taste and a wonderful smell." He also said it was "otherwise useless" as a spice.
In Ancient Times
Ancient Judaism
The root of Dolomiaea costus is mentioned in old Jewish writings as kosht. This name refers to its arrowhead shape. It was used in the ketoret, a special incense mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. This incense was burned on an altar in the Tabernacle and later in the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The ketoret was a very important part of the Temple services.
Ancient Rome
In ancient Greece, it was called kostos. In Latin, it was called costum. People in ancient Rome and Byzantium used it as a spice. They even used it to flavor wine.
Medieval Britain
Costus was also used as a spice in England during the Middle Ages. For example, it was an ingredient in a "greensauce" described by Alexander Neckam in the 12th century.
In Islam
Prophet Muhammad recommended using "Indian incense" (costus) in his teachings. He said it could help with "seven diseases." He mentioned sniffing it for throat problems and putting it in the mouth for chest pain.
In China
In traditional Chinese medicine, the root of costus is one of the 50 most important herbs. It is called yún mù xiāng, which means "wood aroma." You can find it in a popular medicine called Po Chai pills that helps with digestion. It is also used as incense.
In India
In Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, the name kushta refers to a plant god. It was mentioned in old texts as a remedy for fever. In ancient India, kushta was thought to be a special plant from the heavens, growing high in the Himalayas. It was believed to help with digestion, clean the body, improve fertility, and reduce pain. Its dried powder is used in an ointment for skin problems and as a hair wash.
Costus root is also used to treat woolen cloth in the hill areas of Uttarakhand.
Other Common Uses
An essential oil from the roots is used in perfumes, incenses, and hair rinses. It has a strong, lasting smell. At first, it smells like violets, but as it gets older, the smell changes to be more like a goat. You can find the roots as an essential oil, a ground powder, or as dried sticks.
The plant is also used to make incense sticks. The roots are ground into a powder and then shaped into sticks. Dried costus sticks are often cut into thin slices. These slices can be used to light shrines or added to hot baths as a tonic.
Trading Costus
A survey in 1997 found that Dolomiaea costus was easy to find in markets in India. It is considered one of the most common medicinal plants sold in Delhi. Large amounts of Dolomiaea costus can be bought on demand. Its main buyers are big and small medicine companies.
According to CITES (a group that tracks wildlife trade), China and India are the main countries that export this plant. Hong Kong also re-exports a lot of it. China was the first country to record trading Dolomiaea costus in 1981 and 1982. Dolomiaea costus is the only plant listed in Appendix I of CITES that is traded a lot internationally for medicine. It was first listed in Appendix II in 1975 and then moved to Appendix I.
Why Costus is Endangered
Dolomiaea costus is one of the most threatened medicinal plants in the Kashmir Himalaya region. It is in danger because too much of it is collected without rules. There is also illegal trade and its natural home is being lost.
Its habitat is disappearing because of new roads and military buildings in the areas where it grows. This reduces how much of the plant can be grown around the world. Also, fun activities and cities growing larger are limiting where it can be grown. Another problem is that yaks graze without control, eating the plant.
However, the biggest threat comes from people using the plant for its medicinal properties. It is listed as "endangered" in the Red Data Book of Indian plants. One study said the plant is "Critically Endangered" in India. Its population has dropped by 70% in the last 10 years. In Jammu and Kashmir, it is also listed as "Critically Endangered."
There are efforts to protect the plant. In 1978, Jammu and Kashmir passed a special law called The Kuth Act. This law helps control the trade of Dolomiaea costus.
Images for kids
-
A close-up of the Dolomiaea costus plant.
See also
In Spanish: Saussurea costus para niños
