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
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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Uses:
1. Benefits Stomach and Intestines, Moves the Qi:
-good for the Stomach, good in the Colic, poor appetite and digestion
-abdominal pain; Hernia

2. Moves Liver Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-pain over Liver and Gall Bladder; Tumors of the Liver

3. Clears Wind and Damp:
-Rheumatism and Wind diseases including Paralysis
-promotes Urine, clears Edema

4. Resists Poison:
-Malaria, Cholera, Leprosy, Diphtheria
-used in Antidotes

5. Moves Qi, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-spasmodic Cough, bronchial Asthma, chronic Bronchitis (mostly in Ayurveda)

6. Regulates Qi, Strengthens Brain:

7. Promotes Menstruation
-Amenorrhea; Menstrual Pain

8. Externally:
-compound Oil of Costus; strengthens Nerves, Muscles and Tendons; applied to the Spine in Fevers; also for Colic, Pains; prevents Grey hair
-decoction makes a good hair wash
-Wounds, Ulcers, Ringworm, chronic Skin Diseases and Tumors (ointment or paste)
-powder is applied to dry moist Ulcers (Avicenna)
-powder is applied to Toothache
-as a fumigant or incense during Infectious diseases to prevent infection
-as a cosmetic

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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 Elecampane, Marjoram, boiled in Sesame oil (as in Oil of Costus)
15. Chronic Joint diseases, combine Costus with Rock Salt, Mustard oil, Vinegar, form a paste and apply topically. (Ayurveda)

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)


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

Main Preparations used:
Diacostum, Oil of Costus