Kushta (Saussurea lappa) is an herb of strong, perennial 3-4 feet tall shrub and its outer surface appear yellowish brown - grayish brown having rough longitudinal furrows, fine netted wrinkles, and root branches.
It has thick cylindrical roots 5-20 cm long, 1-6 cm in diameter, some with slight curve that sometimes split longitudinally and have purple colored flowers.
The texture is hard and difficult to snap off. Sometimes presented with peeled outer bark and a dented scar left by the stem on the head of root. The cut surface is yellowish brown - dark brown.
Old roots of this herb have piths in the center and sometime may be empty inside. It smells characteristic and tastes bitter.
The herb Kushta has been mentioned in Veda's and being used since long times. It is declared to cure various diseases as it possess various properties like Rasayana, Vrushya and Krimigna. This herb is recommended for the rejuvenation of each and every part of the body.
Kushta or Saussurea lappa is being used for thousands years in cosmetics, for gastric ulcers, arthritis, inflammation, skin healing, and more.
It is precisely stated as tamaka nashaka Kushth. The herb is often recommended as a supplement in infertility as it specially nurtures the reproductive organs i.e. why it also works well in menstrual disorders especially painful menstrual cycle. Kushth is also beneficial in skin diseases. It is also used as an anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory & analgesic supplement especially for gout & rheumatism.
Chemical present in this herb which helps to bring beneficial effects in many conditions are Essential oil, Costol Taraxas-terol, Costunolide, Dehydro costuhactone, Alpha-cyclocostunolide, Sitosterol, Sesquitepenes, Ar-curcumene., isodihydro costuhactone, Costol-lactone.
This herb grows in Kashmir and Alpine Himalayan ranges at 8,000- 12,000 feet. It is also found in high mountains of India China, Korea and Japan.
The herb requires humid and cool climate. Deep rich porous soil and sandy textured loam soil, which is rich in organic carbon and has good quantity of moisture is too good for its germination as well as better survival of seedlings and production of long and thick roots.
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
||
Rasa |
Tikta |
Taste |
Bitter |
Guna |
Laghu, Rooksha, Teekshna |
Physical Property |
Light, Dryness Piercing, |
Virya |
Ushna |
Potency |
Hot |
Vipaka |
Katu |
Metabolic Property (After Digestion) |
Pungent |
Kushth pacifies the Kapha and Vata Doshas hence it is used in many Vata Kapha diseases.
Charak Samhita |
Sushrut Samhita |
· Sukrasodhana - Group of herbs that cleanse semen, correct sperm morphology · Lekhaniya - Group of herbs that have scraping, fat reducing activity · Asthapanopaga - Group of herbs used in Basti treatment. |
· Vatashasmana - Group of herb to balance vata dosha. |
The Bhavprakash nighantu edition of 1998: verse 173, page no-91.
The names and of - Kusht are Vapya, Paribhavya, and Utpal.
It is hot in potency, pungent and bitter in taste. The herb facilitates spermatogenesis. It manages gout, skin disease, cough and vata kaphaj diseases.
The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998, verse 173, page no-91.
This herb has so many uses in different diseases because of its strong and medicinal properties like anti-cytotoxic, antibacterial, diuretic, hypolipidaemic, antiseptic, hypotensive, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, antimycotic, antiulcer anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant and also acts as insect repellent and insecticidal. Additionally it possesses analgesic and complexion enhancing properties. It is also an antioxidant that contains phenolic agents like in green tea, glycosides, saponins, and flavonoids.
Root is the useful part.
1/4 - 1 gm