| Saussurea costus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Cynareae |
| Genus: | Saussurea |
| Species: | S. costus |
| Binomial name | |
| Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.[1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
Saussurea costus is a plant in the family Asteraceae. Its root was known as costus to the ancient world.[4] The root is also known as putchock,[4] puchuk,[4] koshet (Hebrew: קשט), Kuth,[3] Kut,[3] Koot[3] or Kushta (Ayurveda)[5].
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It grows on the Himalayas in the vicinity of Kashmir.[4]
It has long lyrate leaves and heads of purple florets.[4]
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.[5]
The root of Saussurea costus has been used as an incense and perfume ingredient for thousands of years and is mentioned in rabbinical writings as koshet (Hebrew: קשט), 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.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the root is one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It has the name (Chinese: 云木香; pinyin: yún mù xiāng, meaning “wood aroma”).[5] It forms a main ingredient in the Chinese pastille rods known as joss sticks.[4] It is also used as incense.[6]
In Tibet the root was and is used extensively as incense and medicine.
In Ayurveda 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).[5] 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.[5] 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.[5] 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.[4][6]
“Costus” in Greek means “from the East” referring to the Indian lower Himalaya from where the spice was imported into Rome and Greece.