Costus speciosus, Push kar mu la Wild Ginger, Crepe GingerPush kar mu la (Tibetan)Kebuka (Ayurveda) (sometimes called Kustha)Zhang Liu Tou (TCM) Costus speciosusN. Witsen, H. de Jager, Plantae Javanicae pictae, ex Java transmissae anno MDCC, (1700) Costus speciosusBlanco, Flora de Filipinas. (1875) Costus speciosus(Photo by Mokkie) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Costus speciosus (syn. Banksia speciosus, Cheilocostus speciosus) Parts used: Root, rhizome Temperature & Taste: Warm, dry. Pungent Uses: 1. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Stops Pain:-Gout, Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis-Edema, Fluid Swellings, Ascites-Dysuria, Jaundice3. Resists Poison, Resolves Swellings:-Fever, Colds, Influenza-Welling Abscess, Carbuncles, Boils-Skin diseases including Leprosy-Snake Bite, Dog Bites, Food Poisoning,4. Moves the Blood, Stops Bleeding:-retention of the Placenta; contracts Uterus-Postpartum Bleeding-Threatened Miscarriage-Hemorrhoids-Bradycardia5. Astringes to Stop Leakage:-Diabetes-Spermatorrhea, Seminal Emission6. Externally:-herbs is applied as a paste to fluid swellings-Ear infection, the juice is instilled in the ear-applied to skin diseases Dose: Prepared root: 3–6 gramsFor Worms, 2 spoonfuls of the root juice has been used.A spoonful of the powder has been taken for Constipation Comment: 1. Should not be confused with Costus root, Saussurea lappa. Numerous sources have listed C. speciosus as a source for Ru rta, the ‘true’ Costus, Saussurea lappa. it is uncertain if, perhaps, the root…

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