Kushtha — Costus

Ayurvedic herb Kushtha (Saussurea costus) — Costus. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Katu, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Vata, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Saussurea lappa is a strong Vata-pacifying herb, used for pain, respiratory ailments, and skin diseases.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaTikta, KatuTikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic; Katu (Pungent) — stimulates digestion, circulation, expectorant
GunaLaghu, RukshaLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaKatuKatu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
PrabhavaVatahara, Kushtaghna, ShukralaVatahara; Kushtaghna — treats skin diseases; Shukrala — increases semen and reproductive fluid

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Kushtha is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Utpalaka, Amaya, Gada, Ruja

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Kushtha are: kanda.

Main Indications

Kushtha is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Vata Vyadhi, Kasa, Shwasa, Kushta, Kandu.

Dosha Effects

Kushtha pacifies Vata, Kapha.

It may aggravate Pitta when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Kushtha is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kauu, Tikta
Guna (Quality)Laghu
Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu 134
Karma (Action)Kaphav¡tajit, śukrala, Rakta¿odhaka, Varḍya
Dose0.2-1.0 of the drug in powder form.
Therapeutic Uses: V¡tarakta, Visarpa, Kuṣuha, K¡sa, śv¡sa
Important Formulations: Kouuamcukk¡di Taila
Part Used: Root

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
rootAmenorrheaMESH:D000568,UMLS:C0002453, DOID:13938, ICD-11:GA20.0ISBN:9788171360536
rootAngina pectorisMESH:D000787,UMLS:C0002962, ICD-11:BA40ISBN:9788172363093
rootAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788172363093
rootAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788171360536
rootAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootAntipruriticsMESH:D000982,UMLS:C0003417, ICD-11:EC90ISBN:9788171360536
rootAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9789327275590
rootAppetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9788172361266
rootAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootAstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
rootCholeraMESH:D002771,UMLS:C0008354, DOID:1498, ICD-11:1A00ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266
rootColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788171360536
rootCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9789327275590
rootDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9788171360536
rootDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788172361792
rootDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9788171360536
rootDysmenorrheaMESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3ISBN:9788171360536
rootDyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9789327275590
rootDyspneaMESH:D004417,UMLS:C0013404, ICD-11:MD11.5ISBN:9780387706375
rootErysipelasMESH:D004886,UMLS:C0014733, DOID:11330, ICD-11:1B70.0ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
rootExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9789327275590
rootFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootGastrointestinal motilityMESH:D005769,UMLS:C0017184ISBN:9788172363093
rootGoutMESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
rootHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788171360536
rootHypnotics and sedativesMESH:D006993,UMLS:C0020592, ICD-11:XM3GR8ISBN:9788172361792
rootHypoglycemic agentsMESH:D007004,UMLS:C0020616ISBN:9788172363093
rootHysteriaMESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701ISBN:9788171360536
rootLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788171360536
rootMemory disordersMESH:D008569,UMLS:C0025261ISBN:9788172363093
rootNarcoticsMESH:D009294,UMLS:C0027415ISBN:9788172361792
rootNervous system diseasesMESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7ZISBN:9788172363093
rootParasympatholyticsMESH:D010276,UMLS:C0030511, ICD-11:XM3A77ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootPrurigoMESH:D011536,UMLS:C0033771, ICD-11:EC91ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
rootGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
rootSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9789327275590
rootUlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788172363093, ISBN:9789327275590
rootWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9789327275590
AmenorrheaMESH:D000568,UMLS:C0002453, DOID:13938, ICD-11:GA20.0ISBN:9788173717062
AnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9788173717062
Antifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788173717062
Antimutagenic agentsMESH:D016587,UMLS:C0085168ISBN:9788172363093
Antineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9788172363093
AntipruriticsMESH:D000982,UMLS:C0003417, ICD-11:EC90ISBN:9788173717062
AntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788173717062
Antirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9788172361792
AphrodisiacsMESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567ISBN:9788173717062
Appetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9788173717062
AstheniaMESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717062
AsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
BronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788173717062
CholeraMESH:D002771,UMLS:C0008354, DOID:1498, ICD-11:1A00ISBN:9788173717062
ColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788173717062
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
DiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9788173717062
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788173717062
DysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9788173717062
DysmenorrheaMESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3ISBN:9788173717062
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
EdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9788172361792
ErysipelasMESH:D004886,UMLS:C0014733, DOID:11330, ICD-11:1B70.0ISBN:9788173717062
ExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717062
FeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717062
GalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9788173717062
GoutMESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25ISBN:9788173717062
HeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788173717062
Heart diseasesMESH:D006331,UMLS:C0018799, DOID:114, ICD-11:BC4ZISBN:9788173717062
HiccupMESH:D006606,UMLS:C0019521, ICD-11:MD11.6ISBN:9788173717062
HysteriaMESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701ISBN:9788173717062
JaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9788172361792
LeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788173717062
PrurigoMESH:D011536,UMLS:C0033771, ICD-11:EC91ISBN:9788172361792
General tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9788173717062
Skin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788172361792
ToothacheMESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.YISBN:9788173717062
UlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
Urination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9788173717062
VitiligoMESH:D014820,UMLS:C0042900, DOID:12306, ICD-11:ED63.0ISBN:9788173717062
Wounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9788172361792
DiaphoreticUMLS:C1707737ISBN:9788173717062