CANE REED COSTUS SPECIOSUS

CANE REED (Costus speciosus (J. König) Sm.) ++

Synonym :
- Banksea speciosa J. König.

Activities (Cane Reed) :
- Abortifacient (1; MPI); Anesthetic (1; PH2); Anthelminthic (f; KAB; MPI; WOI); Anticholinesterase (1; MPI); Antiedemic (1; SKJ); Antiexudative (1; PH2); Antifertility (1; SKJ); Antiinflammatory (1; SKJ); Antispasmodic (1; PH2; SKJ); Aphrodisiac (f; DEP; IHB; KAB; MPI); Astringent (f; MPI); Bitter (1; KAB; MPI); Choleretic (1; PH2); CNS-Depressant (f; SKJ); Depurative (f; DAA; DEP; IHB; KAB; MPI); Diaphoretic (f; IHB); Digestive (f; MPI); Diuretic (1; PH2); Estrogenic (1; PH2); Larvicide (f; SKJ); Laxative (f; IHB; WOI); Stimulant (f; MPI); Tonic (f; SKJ; WOI); Uterotonic (1; MPI).

Indications (Cane Reed) :
- Abortion (f; PH2); Anasarca (f; SKJ); Anemia (f; KAB); Arthrosis (1; MPI; SKJ); Asthma (f; SKJ); Bite (f; PH2; SKJ); Bleeding (f; PH2); Blister (f; SKJ); Bronchosis (f; KAB); Burn (f; SKJ); Cancer (f; JLH); Catarrh (f; DEP; MPI); Childbirth (f; PH2); Cholera (f; SKJ); Cold (f; IHB; SKJ); Constipation (f; SKJ); Cough (f; DEP; IHB; MPI; PH2); Cramp (1; PH2; SKJ); Dermatosis (f; DEP; IHB; MPI; PH2); Dysentery (f; IHB); Dyspepsia (f; KAB; MPI); Fever (f; DEP; IHB; MPI; PH2; SKJ); Gastrosis (f; SKJ); Gravel (f; SKJ); Headache (f; SKJ); Hematuria (f; SKJ); Hiccup (f; KAB); Inflammation (1; KAB; MPI; SKJ); Leprosy (f; IHB); Lumbago (f; KAB); Malaria  (f; SKJ); Ophthalmia (f; IHB; MPI); Osteosis (f; KAB); Pain (f; KAB; PH2); Phthisis (f; SKJ); Pneumonia (f; IHB); Rabies (f; DAA); Rheumatism (1; IHB; KAB; SKJ); Scabies (f; SKJ); Smallpox (f; IHB); Snakebite (f; MPI; PH2); Stomatosis (f; JLH); Swelling (1; SKJ); Syphilis (f; IHB); Thirst (f; SKJ); Tuberculosis (f; SKJ); Water Retention (1; PH2); Worm (f; MPI).

Dosages (Cane Reed) :
- Food farmacy; rhizome edible after cooking (WOI).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Cane Reed) :
- Not covered (AHP; KOM). Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages (PH2). Overdose might induce European cholera, diuresis, and shock (PH2). MPI gives some interesting data. Alkaloids from the plant show in vitro and in vivo anticholinesterase activities, perhaps explaining the depurative and ophthalmic activity (MPI). C. speciosus was found to be 2.5 times more ecbolic than Gloriosa superba, enough to make me advise pregnant women to avoid both. Saponins from the herb caused proliferation of uterine and vaginal tissues similar to those produced by stilbestrol (MPI). These
saponins also had antiarthritic and antiinflammatory activities.