Some time ago, a friend of mine introduced me to her sister who had this insulin plant in her
backyard. She told me how eating the leaves dsily of this plant lowered her blood sugar.
I found it interesting because it seemed here in Asia, there are herbal cures for almost
all illnesses. She gave me a cutting and I went home right away to find a nice semi-shaded
place for it in my garden.
The Insulin plant is clasified as a Costus. The scientific name is, Costus Igneus.
This plant originated in India, and is used as an Ayuvedic medicinal cure for the
common illnesses like colds, and flue, diabetes, high cholesterol and fatty liver. The leaves
reduce inflammation, and promotes smooth airflow in the lungs, relieving muccus in patients
with bronchitis, and Asthma.
The leaves can be crushed and drank as tea, or eaten in a salad. The effect is to reduce
stress and damage to healthy cells, and is good for cancer patients undergoing chemo-
therapy.
HOW TO PREPARE THIS COSTUS PLANT FOR LOWERING BLOOD SUGAR:
Crush dried leaves of the plant to make a powder. Have half a tsp of this powder twice
a day.
You can also chew one fresh leaf, twice a day.
Tea can be made by boiling 2 cups of water, and dropping one leaf in the hot water. Let it
seep in for about 10 minutes, then drink a cup of the tea, twice a day.
Flowers of the Costus Igneus plant:
Various phyto chemical investigations reveal the presence of carbohydrates, terpenoids, proteins, alkaloids, tannins and amounts of trace elements along with flavonoids.
Medicinal Uses
C.cuspidatus is known as Insulin plant. As it is having the virtue of the promoting insulin by human body.
Aqueous extract of this plant would prevent the formation of calcium kidney stones by the inhibitory effect on plant growth of calcium oxalate.
The dry leaves of this plant show significant control over blood sugar level in laboratory rats.
This plant is used for the reduction of post prandial blood sugar levels during fasting.
It is now accepted and widely used as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb.
It is possible to consume the leaves by drying and grinding the powder of the leaves.
Pharmacological Activities [4]
This plant has been proven to posses various pharmacological activities on diuretics, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti cancerous
