White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Costus Root, Oct. 7, 2001
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Costus Root
A high altitude plant with a unique and beautiful physical form is Saussurea
lappa commonly known as Costus Root. It
grows on the moist slopes of the Himalayas
at altitudes of 8000-12000 feet in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Lahul-Spiti, etc.
It both grows wild and is cultivated. The roots have a long history of medicinal
and aesthetic use in Tibet, India and other mountain regions. It was a prized
item of commerce from the earliest times as the roots not only had great curative
properties but also had wonderful aromatic qualities much prized in perfume
creations of the ancient world. It not only was appreciated as an oil but as
a prime ingredient in incense.
Today the roots still offer to us their special aromatic virtues in the form of an essential oil and absolute although some authorities consider it unsafe for application on the skin. Nonetheless one may find it offers delightful nuances in compositions which can be diffussed through the air and enjoyed throught the simple act of breathing. Only very tiny amounts are required are used to create unique effects in diffusor blends.
The roots are widely traded in the huge back street bazaars like Khari Baoli in Delhi. I have only had one opportunity to explore this hidden part of the medicinal and aromatic plant world and it was an unforgettable experience. Leaving the main road and turning into small lanes one finds shop after shop offering every conceivable plant used in medicine, perfumery, incense, etc. Shops specializing in particular aromatics like frankincense, myrrh and benzoin or spikenard, costus and valarian are true delights. The knowledge and expertise of the shop owners with regards to the particular herbs, spices, wood, resins, etc is vast and one feels as if they have entered into an Arabian Nights fairy tale even while still living in this modern age.
Another keen memory of this root and the habitat in which it dwells comes from a meeting with Mr. Nandlal a person my mom calls the John Muir of the Himalayas. Nandlal spent 40 years roaming the upper ranges of the Himalayas in search of rare and precious plants and his knowledge of the areas botanical resources is superb. I visited him in the company of my fragrance mentor, Ramakant Harlka, at his distillery in the Kullu Valley and on that occasion he showed us collected roots of valarian, spikenard, costus and many others. Looking at the tall majestic peaks surrounding the valley while talking with this wonderful man and inhaling the odors of the aromatic roots was a truly precious experience.
Simple description of the plant
Saussurea, known as c0stus in English, is a tall, stout herb having
an annual stem and perennial roots. It has very large heart-shaped leaves: bluish,
bluish-purple or almost black flowers and hairy fruits. The dried roots of the
plant constitute the drug. Saussurea is indigenous to India. It occurs in Kashmir
and adjoining areas at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 metres above the
sea level.
Detailed description of the plant
The plant is a tall, perennial herb upto 2 meters high. Leaves are very large
at the base born on the winged stalks and
upper leaves are smaller, sometimes
with two lobes at the base of the leaves, almost clasping the stems. Flowers
are about 2 centimeters long, bluish purple or almost black, borne on rounded
flower heads; few flower heads are clustered together. Pappus is about 1.7 centimeters
long, feathery, giving a curious , fluffy appearnace to the fruiting flower
heads.
Images of Saussurea-
I could not find images of Saussaurea lappa but have included images of other
plants in the same genus which gives a general idea of characteristics-
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/lindman/542.jpg
superb image of Saussurea alpina
http://pharm1.pharmazie.uni-greifswald.de/systematik/7_bilder/yamasaki/yamas188.jpg
fruits of Saussurea eriocephala
http://www.srgc.org.uk/journal/taylor/sausgos.htm
Saussurea gossypiphora
Ayurveda and Tibbi Medicine
The plant is well-known both in the Ayurvedic and Tibbi medicine. The root has
a pungent taste and a peculiar
fragrance. It is a tonic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic
and a stimulant. It strengthens functioning of the stomach and promotes its
action. It is helpful in arresting secretion or bleeding. The essential oil
has antiseptic and disinfectant properties. It relaxes the involuntary muscle
tissues and serves as a cardiac stimulant. It relieves flatulence and is a diuretic.
It is also useful in removing catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial
tubes.
Respiratory Disorders Saussurea is beneficial in the treatment of respiratory
disorders like bronchitis, asthma and cough, especially controlling attacks
of bronchial asthma. The combined action of the essential oil and the alkaloid
in the root restrict the paroxysms. The alkaloid saussurine has a depressant
action on the vagus centre in the medulla, which supplies motor nerve fibre,
as well as on the involuntary muscle fibres of the broncholes and gastrointestinal
tract. It produces a slight but persistent rise in blood pressure and increases
the force of contraction and amplitude of the ventricles. The essential oil
not only relaxes the bronchial muscle, but also has a marked expectorant action
which relieves turgescene of the mucosa. It, however, does not produce a permanent
cure unless the causal factors are investigated into and removed.
Cholera This powerful aromatic stimulant is also useful in cholera. An
infusion made of 3 grams of fresh saussurea, I gram of cardamom and 120 ml of
water can be administered in 30 gram doses every half an hour in treating this
condition. The essential oil in the herb produces reflex inhibition by its stimulating
properties. It helps in controlling the disease. It is anirritant and has a
strong penetrating and persistent odour and taste. The depressant action of
the drug on the brain helps in relieving the spasm.
Ulcer Saussurea is useful for severe ulceration. The dried and powdered
root is the principal ingredient in any astringent andstimulant ointment. Premature
Greying of Hair The herb prevents premature greying of hair. The dried and powdered
root can be used as hair wash.
http://www.indiangyan.com/books/therapybooks/Herbs_That_Heal/saussurea.shtml
Ethnobotanical uses
ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE USES
China
Ache(Stomach), Anodyne , Asthma, Cancer, Carminative, Cholera, Circulation,
Cough, Diarrhea, Digestive, Dysentery, Dyspepsia,Energy, Hypotens ion, Insecticide,
Nausea, Spasm, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Tumor, Tumor(lung), Tympanitis,
Viricide
Elsewhere
Asthma, Bronchitis, Carminative, Diuretic, Expectorant, Fumitory, Insecticide,
Incense, Opiate, Preventa tive, Sedative, Stimulant
India
Antiseptic, Candida, Fungicide, Aphrodisiac, Fumigant, Hairblack, Perfume, Shampoo,
Skin
http://www.rain-tree.com/costus.htm
Phytochemicals present in Costus Root
Phytochemicals Include:
Heptadecatetraene, 12-methoxy-dihydrocostunolide, 22-dihydrostigmasterol, 3-isopropylpentanoic-acid,
3-methylbutyric-acid, 4-ethyloctanoic-acid, 7*-octenoic-acid, Acetic-acid, Alkaloids,
Alpha-humulene, Alpha-phellandrene, Alpha-costene, Alpha-amorphenic-acid, Alpha-amyrin-stearate,
Alpha-ionone, Aplotaxene Beta-sitosterol Beta-selinine, Beta-costene, Beta-ionone,
Beta- elemene, Beta-amyrin-stearate, Betulin, Camphene, Caryophyllene, Caryo-phyllene-oxide,
Cedrene, Cedr ol, Cis-dihydroionone,Costic-acid, Costol, Costunolide, Costus-acid,
Costus-lactone,
Dehydrocostus-lactone, Dihydro- dehydrocostus-lactone, Dihydroaplotaxene, Dihydrocostunolide,
Dihydrocostus- lactone, EO, Friedelin, Guaia-3,9,11-triene-12-acid, Heptano
ic-acid, Hexanoic- acid, Inulin, Isozaluzanin, Kushtin, Lactones, Linalool,
Lupeol, Myrcene, Naphthaline, Octanoic-acid, Oleic-acid, P-cymene, Palmitic-acid,
Pentadec- 1-ene, Phellandrene, Resinoids, Saussurine, Stigmasterol, Tannin,
Taraxasterol
http://www.rain-tree.com/costus.htm
Other Uses
Essential; Hair; Incense.
An essential oil obtained from the roots is used medicinally, in perfumery,
incenses and as a hair rinse when it is said to darken grey hair[61]. It has
a strong lingering scent[238]. The smell is at first like violets, but as it
ages it can become more fur-like or eventually become unpleasantly goat-like[245].
The roots are cut into lengths about 8cm long and then dried before being exported[211].
Smaller pieces of the root are ground into a powder and then used to make incense
sticks[211]. The longer clean pieces are cut into very thin slices and then
burnt at shrines or used as a tonic in hot baths[211]. http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Saussurea+costus&CAN=LATIND
COSTUS:
Costus is the root of the plans Saussurea Lappa, a tall perennial plant growing
on the open slopes of the vale or Kashmir and other high valleys of that region.
The plant is found at elevations ol 8000 to 13000 feet. It was used by the Romans
as a culinary spice as also as a perfume. This root was dug up and cut into
small pieces and shipped to Rome and China. The root is generally of the size
of a finger wit' a yellowish woody part and a whitish bark. It is said that
Seleucus Callinicus had obtained Costus from India and sent it as gift to the
Milesians.6 The Romans also referred to costus as radix, the root as distinguished
from Nard which was called folio(the leaf). The price of Costus in Rome is stated
by Pliny to have been 5 denarii per pound. India still exports Costus and today
the collection of Costus is a state monopoly. In Kashmir the product is used
by shawl merchants to protect their fabrics from moths. The Indian origin of
Costus is evident from the fact that the word is derivedfrom the Sanskrit term
Kustha which means 'that which stands in the earth'. This word was perhaps used
as Costus was a root. http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/india_contribution/prod.html
http://www.unanimedicine.com/acoaaqes.htm
good article on valarian and costus in unani medicine
Costus Essential Oil
Physical description-
pale yellow to brownish yellow viscous liquid
Olfactory description-
soft, delicate and warm precious woods/orris root odor. Surprising radiant tenacity
for an oil which has a fairly low key odor impact. A buttery/fatty note appears
shortly after one detects the precious wood/orris root odor. It lends the entire
olfactory texture of the oil a very smooth feeling.
Perfume Uses-"Costus Oil will induce warm, woody, and "natural" notes
to a perfume.; however this is limited to cetain perfume types, eg. Oriental
bases, chypres, violet bases, certain floral fragrances, etc. and many types
of the "modern-aldehyic" theme... Blends well with patchouli, opoponax, oakmoss,
etc. Overdoses of costus oil may easily produce obnoxious effects, and the power
of this oil is often underestimated. Similar in effect to angelica root oil,
Costus Oil has the peculiar ability of producing diffusive power and intriguing
topnotes, and at the same time it works
effectively as a fixative of unusual tenacity."-Steffen Arctander
Aromatic plants used in incense
As many of you already know many aromatic plants
have been used in incense since ancient times. Costus is among them. Over the
course of many generations ancient people discovered that when aromatic plants
were burned, they gave off aromatic molecules that had unique healing properties.
Many of us tend to associate smoke with something negative, but smoke can also
be healing and beneficial. One whole branch of ayurvedic medicine called Dhoopam
relates to healing through inhalation of the smoke produced from certain aromatic
plants in specific combinations. The Tibetans also developed a very high form
of healing through smoke. In fact when I was traveling in the Palampur region
of the Himalayas I talked with a research scientists who had spent several years
of her life in Bhutan amidst the Buddhist community there. She told me that
she had personally observed that people with certain types of diseases came
to the monks and they had special rooms where they were treated through inhalation
of aromatic plants that were combined in specific formulas and burned. It is
important to remember that the molecules created by pyralyisis(distillation
by fire) are different than those which exist in the essential oil, CO2 extract,
etc. It is an area where only limited research has been done but I think we
shall see more forthcoming on the healing benefits of the smoke of roots like
Costus, Vetiver, Spikenard; precious woods like agar, sandalwood, cedarwood;
resins like frankincense, myrrh and opoponax, etc. These plants and their aromatic
products and the incenses produced from them have had a revered place in the
sacred pharmacopeias of ancient civilizations and it will be interesting to
see what is discovered about them through our modern research technologizes.
As has been mentioned before many ancient systems of wholistic health concerned
themselves with the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well being of
the person and medicines for rebalancing a person were often of a very sublime
type, including
incense.