Botanical name: Saussurea lappa
Other names: Saussurea costus, Pushkara, Mu-xiang
Saussurea lappa
Healing power:
- as aphrodisiacum,
- against premature turning grey of hair.
- in case of rheumatic arthritis,
- chronical gastritis,
- bronchitis,
- asthma,
- It is stimulant and
- antiseptic.
- It strengthens.
How to use:
You use the roots as a spice or the roots are smoked.
Description of the plant:
Costus grows perennial and can withstand frost. In my garden the plant overwintered at temperatures about - 15° C without protection against frost.
The plant gets dark-violet flowers and reaches a height up to 3,00 m.
Costus wants a sunny to halfshady location and needs a normal, not to moist soil.
The roots smell like musk.
Costus belongs to the herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine and grows in Northindia, in the region of the Himalaya, Nepal and Kaschmir.
Propagation:
Sow the seed from February to May in flats at a cool place without frost. In April you transplant the young plants into your garden.
It is even possible to sow Costus directly from March to May or from Septembre to Octobre in your garden. In the last case, Costus blooms in the second year.
I sowed Costus on 1th February 2005 indoors. On 14th April it germinated.
Ingredients:
Saussureamin
