Costus spp.

Related Terms

C. afar, C. afer, C. albus, C. allenii, C. amazonicus, C. amazonicus subsp. Krukovii, C. anachiri, C. ananassae, C. anomocalyx, C. arabica, C. arabicus, C. arabicus 'Variegatus', C. araneosus, C. argenteus, C. asplundii, C. asteranthus, C. bakeri, C. barbatus (Red Velvet Ginger), C. beckii, C. bicolor, C. bingervillensis, C. bracteatus, C. brasiliensis, C. cava, C. cernuus, C. chartaceus, C. chinensis, C. chrysocephalus, C. ciliatus, C. claviger, C. clemensae, C. comosus, C. comosus var. bakeri, C. congestiflorus, C. congestus, C. conicus, C. cordatus, C. cupreifolius, C. curcumoides, C. curvibracteatus (Dwarf Orange Ginger), C. curvibracteatus 'Green Mountain' (Green Mountain Spiral Flag), C. cuspidatus (Spiral Ginger), C. cylindricus, C. deistelii, C. dendrophilus, C. dewevrei, C. dinklagei, C. dirzoi, C. discolor, C. dubius, C. dussii, C. edulis, C. elegans, C. engleranus, C. englerianus, C. eryterophyllus, C. erythrocoryne, C. erythrophyllus (Blood Red Spiral Costus), C. erythrothyrsus, C. fimbriatus, C. fissiligulatus, C. foliaceus, C. formosanus, C. formosus, C. fragilis, C. friedrichsenii, C. fusiformis, C. gabonensis, C. geothyrsus, C. giganteus, C. glaber, C. glabratus, C. glaucus, C. globosus, C. guanaiense, C. guanaiensis (Cana De India), C. guanaiensis Rusby var. macrostrobilus (K.Schum.) Maas (Cana De India), C. guanaiensis var. asplundii, C. guanaiensis var. macrostrobilus (Cana De India), C. guanaiensis var. tarmicus, C. guianensis, C. guianicus, C. hasseltii, C. hirsutus, C. 'Hot Lips', C. igneus, C. insularis, C. juruanus, C. kingii, C. lacerus, C. laevis, C. lanceolatus, C. lasius, C. lateriflorus, C. laterifolius, C. latifolius, C. laxus, C. ledermannii, C. letestui, C. le-testui, C. leucanthus, C. ligularis, C. lima, C. lima var. scabremarginatus, C. lima var. scabrimarginatus, C. littoralis, C. longebracteolatus, C. longibracteolatus, C. lucanusianus, C. lucanusianus 'Yellow Form', C. luteus, C. maboumiensis, C. macranthus, C. macrostrobilus, C. macrostrobilus var. macrostrobilus, C. maculates, C. malaccensis, C. malorticanus, C. malortieanus (Stepladder Plant), C. 'Maroon Chalice', C. maximus, C. megalobractea, C. megalobracteata, C. mexicanus, C. micranthus, C. microcephalus, C. montanus, C. mooreanus, C. mosaicus, C. nemotrichus, C. nepalensis, C. ngouniensis, C. nitidus, C. niveopurpureus, C. niveus, C. nov, C. nudicaulis, C. nutans, C. oblitterans, C. oblongus, C. oligophyllus, C. osae (Costus), C. paradoxus, C. pauciflorus, C. paucifolius, C. phaeotrichus, C. phlociflorus, C. phyllocephalus, C. pictus, C. pilgeri, C. pisonis, C. pistiifolius, C. plicatus, C. plowmanii, C. podocephalus, C. potierae, C. productus, C. productus var. strigosus, C. pterometra, C. pubescens, C. pulcherrimus, C. pulchriflorus, C. pulverulentus (Spiral Ginger), C. pulverulentus 'serena', C. pumilus, C. pungens, C. quasi-appendiculatus, C. radicans, C. ramosus, C. registrator, C. ricus, C. rubber, C. rumphianus, C. sanguineus, C. sarmentosus, C. scaber, C. scaberulus, C. schlechteri, C. sepacuitensis, C. sericeus, C. skutchii, C. speciosus (Spiral Ginger), C. speciosus 'Foster Variegated' (Variegated Spiral Ginger), C. speciosus 'Variegatus' (Cane Reed), C. speciosus tetraploid, C. spectabilis, C. spicatus (Spiked Spiral-Flag), C. spiralis (Spiral Ginger), C. spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe var. spiralis, C. spiralis var. hirsutus, C. spiralis var. villosus, C. splendens, C. sprucei, C. steinbachii, C. stenophyllus, C. subbiflorus, C. subsessilis, C. talbotii, C. talbottii, C. tappenbeckianus, C. tarapotensis, C. tatei, C. tonkinensis, C. trachyphyllus, C. tumphiana, C. ubangiensis, C. ulei, C. uniflorus, C. unifolius, C. vargasii, C. varzearum, C. verschaffeltianus, C. villosissimus, C. vinosus, C. violaceus, C. viridis, C. warmingii, C. wilsonii, C. woodsonii (Dwarf French Kiss), C. zamoranus, C. zerumbet, C. zingiberoides, cana-do-brejo (Portuguese - Brazil), Christmas costus, Costaceae (Zingiberales) (family), costunolide, Costus acanthocephalus, Costus acaulis, Costus acreanus, Costus adolphi-friderici, Costus cuspidatus (Nees & Mart.) Maas, Costus fragilis Maas, Costus fusiformis Maas, Costus lucanusianus J.Braun (Costaceae), Costus potierae F.Muell., Costus speciosus (crape ginger), Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm., Costus speciosus (Koen. ex. Retz.) Sm., Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm., Costus speciosus Sim, Costus spicatus (spiked spiralflag ginger), Costus spicatus Swartz (Costaceae), crape ginger, giant ginger, insulin plant, insulina plant, spiral ginger, Zingiberaceae (related family).

Background

Costus is from the Costaceae family, a group of tropical herblike plants. Costus is used in Guinean, Brazilian, and Trinidadian traditional medicine for various uses, as well as in the Dominican Republic and parts of the United States for diabetes.
Although several Costus species have a history of use, human studies showing the safety or efficacy of Costus species are lacking.
Note: The focus of this monograph is Costus spp. and not the herb with the common name costus.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
There is no proven safe or effective dose for Costus in adults.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Costus may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
Because Costus contains estrogen-like chemicals, the effects of other agents believed to have estrogen-like properties may be altered.
Costus may also interact with agents for arthritis, cancer, inflammation, or pain relief; agents for bladder, kidney, or urinary stones; agents that may induce abortion; agents that promote urination; agents to treat disorders of the stomach or intestines; antibiotics; cholesterol-lowering agents; or oxytocin (a hormone for uterine contraction during childbirth).

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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