Costus, Costus root, Mu Xiang 木香

Mu Xiang (‘Wood Fragrance’) (TCM)
Kuth, Kushta (Ayurveda)
Qust, Qust Shirin, Kuth (Unani)
Ru Rta  རུ་རྟ  (Tibetan)

Sweet and Bitter varieties of Costus
Herbarium Blackwellianum, 1757

Arabian Costus
A Complete History of Drugs, Pomet, London, 1748

Herbarium, showing various Costus types, A. Bitter Costus;
B. Sweet Costus; C and D, Another Costus; E. Costus iridem;
F. Costus stem /root crown; G. Arabian Costus
Matthioli (Polish), 1596

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Aromaticum et Simplicium Aliquot, de Orta, 1579

S. lappa from Yunnan (Yun Mu Xiang) (Adam, 2016)

Vladimiria souliei (Chuan Mu Xiang) (Adam, 2016)

Costus root used in Tibetan Medicine (Zang Mu Xiang) (Adam, 2016)

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Botanical name:
Saussurea lappa (syn. Aucklandia lappa)

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter, Aromatic.
opens, attenuates, discusses

Classifications:
2A APERIENT.    2B ATTENUATERS.    2C INCIDER.    2G. CLEANSING.    2H. CARMINATIVE.    2I. ANTISPASMODIC.    2Q. ANODYNE
2S. STRENGTHENING.    2U. SUPPURATIVE
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC.   3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS.    3E. DIURETIC.    3G. EMMENAGOGUE
4c. CARDIAC.    4e. STOMACHIC.   4g. HEPATIC.    4j. NERVINE.    4k. ARTHRITIC

Uses:
1. Benefits Stomach and Intestines, Moves the Qi:
-good for the Stomach; poor appetite and digestion

2. Moves Liver Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-pain over Liver and Gall Bladder

3. Clears Wind and Damp:
-Rheumatism and Wind diseases including Paralysis

4. Resists Poison:
-used in Antidotes

5. Moves Qi, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-spasmodic Cough, bronchial Asthma

6. Regulates Qi, Strengthens Brain:

7. Promotes Menstruation
-Amenorrhea; Menstrual Pain

8. Kills Worms:
-adjunct for Worms

Dose:
Powder: 1–3 grams

Comment:
... available in PRO version

Corrective:
... available in PRO version

Substitutes:
... available in PRO version

Preparation:
... available in PRO version

Adulterants:
... available in PRO version

Main Combinations:
1. Costus  ... available in PRO version
2. Organ Pain and obstructions of the Organs, Costus with ... available in PRO version
3. Poor appetite and Digestion, Costus with ... available in PRO version
4. Indigestion, Abdominal pain, Costus with ... available in PRO version
5. Bloating, Rumbling, Diarrhea, Costus with ... available in PRO version
6. Sore Throat, Hoarseness, Cough, Chest pain, Costus with  ... available in PRO version
7. Asthma, Costus with ... available in PRO version
8. Bruising, Costus with ... available in PRO version
9. Liver obstruction, Liver heat, Hepatitie, Cholecystitis, Costus with ... available in PRO version
10. Hysteria, Costus with ... available in PRO version
11. Chronic Rheumatism, Costus with ... available in PRO version
12. Brain tonic, Costus with ... available in PRO version
13. Mental diseases, Costus with ... available in PRO version
14. As an oil externally, Costus with ... available in PRO version
15. Chronic Joint diseases, combine Costus with ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas
Electuary of Costus (Diacostum) (Mesue)
Electuary of Clove and Costus (Caryocostinum)
Antidotum Immortale
Antidote for the Liver and Chronic Cough
Oil of Costus

Costus 6 Powder (Ru rta drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Costus Garuda (Ru khyung) (Tibetan Medicine)
Sea Buckthorn 5 (Star bu 5) (Tibetan Medicine)
Calcite 6 Powder (Tibetan Medicine)
Clove 6 (Li shi drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Amomum 4 (Ko la 4) (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:
1. Drying, so not suitable in Yin deficiency
2. Very activating, so not used in Qi deficiency (but can be combined with Qi tonics)

Main Preparations used:
Diacostum, Oil of Costus