8 Amazing Benefits of the Saussurea Costus Plant for Your Body

The Saussurea Costus (also known as Indian snakeroot) has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries, and modern scientific research has proven some of the benefits to be true. In fact, there are over seven dozen health benefits from this amazing plant! These 8 Benefits of the Saussurea Costus plant will not only help you learn about the uses of the Saussurea Costus, but it can also help you choose what part of the plant you’d like to consume first!

1. Helps Relieve Pain and Inflammation
   The properties found in saussurea costus—like its anti-inflammatory, sedative, and painkilling effects—help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and fight swelling. This makes it a great option for people suffering from arthritis or other inflammatory joint diseases.

2. Anti-Tumor Properties
   The roots and rhizomes of saussurea costus contain rhein, a flavonoid glycoside. Research has shown that rhein has anti-tumor properties. It is most beneficial when applied to cancers of skin, mouth, stomach, lung, cervix and kidney. Rhubarb root also contains rhein in small amounts but because saussureal costus root is approximately 30 times stronger than rhubarb, it can be a more effective treatment.

3. Good for the Liver
   The plant can be effective in treating hepatitis, cirrhosis, and constipation associated with liver issues. The active ingredients in Saussurea costus help remove toxins from your liver by cleansing your blood vessels. It also helps rid your kidneys of stones.

4. Lowers Cholesterol Levels
   This is mainly due to its ability to cleanse and detoxify your liver, which helps rid your body of cholesterol deposits. In addition, studies show that it also promotes a healthy weight loss and reduces inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Improves Eye Health
   In traditional Chinese medicine, saussurea costus is known to improve eye health. Additionally, it can be used as a natural remedy for treating glaucoma and cataracts. The herb has been reported to reduce intraocular pressure, promote drainage and relieve head pain. It’s also been shown to positively affect visual acuity. (1) (2) (3)

6. Boosts Immunity
   People with compromised immune systems often choose to regularly drink a tea made from medicinal plants. The saponins in costus root make it a perfect choice for such patients. In addition, it’s also beneficial for people with impaired kidney function and those who have difficulty eliminating stones from their kidneys, as well as cleaning their liver, treating polycystic ovaries and balancing female hormones.

7. Prevents Diabetes
   Saussurea costus improves blood circulation in your body and thus prevents diabetes. Saussurea costus is known to treat polycystic ovaries that are caused due to poor blood circulation in women. Polycystic ovaries can cause infertility, obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, insulin resistance, and psychological depression. Improve Liver Function: The active ingredients in saussureiocostus help prevent inflammation in your liver. The benefit comes from preventing fat deposits from accumulating on your liver cells.

8. Provides Energy
   The active ingredients in saussurea costus help provide energy to both your body and mind by stimulating production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that regulates brain activity. This can help you stay sharp, focused, and alert even when working long hours—or late nights.