Costus igneus, common name Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag, In India, it is known as insulin plant because of its use in Ayurvedic medicine for its purported anti-diabetic properties.

Costus igneus is a medicinal plant, proved and considered to be a magic cure for diabetes. It leaves help to build up insulin in the human body so it is commonly well known as kostum herbal and insulin plant in India. It was accepted and used widely as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb in earlier times. Consumption of the leaves are believed to lower blood glucose levels, and diabetics who consumed the leaves of this plant did report a fall in their blood glucose levels.

The plant is characterized by large fleshy looking leaves. The undersides of these large, smooth, dark green leaves have light purple shade. The leaves are spirally arranged around the stem, forming attractive, arching clumps arising from underground rootstocks. The maximum height of these plants is about two feet. The flowers are orange in color and are beautiful, 1.5-inch diameter. Flowering occurs during the warm months. And they appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches. The flower petals are quite sweet and nutritious. It’s a lower grower and makes a great ground cover.

Common name

Botanical name: – Costus igneus. Costus igneus common name is *Fiery Costus* or *Spiral Flag*, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Costaceae family.

Medicinal use

In Ayurvedic treatment diabetes patients are advised to chew down the Insulin plants leaves for a month. The patient has to take two leaves per day in the morning and evening for one week. The leaves must be chewed well before swallowing. After one week the patient should take one leaf each in the morning and evening. This dosage should be continued for 30 days. It is found to be effective in bringing blood sugar levels under completely under control.

In Traditional Medicine it is also used to Promotes longevity, Treats rash, Reduces fever, Treats asthma, treats bronchitis and Eliminates intestinal worms.

Research

According to International Journal of Ayurveda Research a new study on Insulin plant (Costus igneus) was published recently. The leaves of insulin plant (Costus igneus) reduced the fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels, bringing them down towards normal, in dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in rats. Reduction in the fasting and the postprandial blood sugar levels with leaves of insulin plant was comparable with that obtained with Glibenclamide 500 µg/kg at 250 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day of powdered leaves of the insulin plant(Costus igneus).