Botanical Index No. 199

Cane Reed

costus speciosus

Medicinal Actions

Anesthetic, Anthelminthic, Anticholinesterase, Antiedemic, Antiexudative, Antifertility, Antiinflammatory, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Choleretic, CNS-Depressant, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Larvicide, Laxative, Stimulant, Tonic, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortion Anasarca Anemia Arthrosis Asthma Bite Bleeding Blister Bronchosis Burn Cancer Catarrh Childbirth Cholera Cold Constipation Cough Cramp Dermatosis Dysentery Dyspepsia Fever Gastrosis Gravel Headache Hematuria Hiccup Inflammation Leprosy Lumbago Malaria Ophthalmia Osteosis Pain Phthisis Pneumonia Rabies Rheumatism Scabies Smallpox Snakebite Stomatosis Swelling Syphilis Thirst Tuberculosis Water Retention Worm Abortifacient Aphrodisiac Bitter

General Dosage

Food farmacy; rhizome edible after cooking.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Overdose might induce “European cholera,” diuresis, and shock. MPI gives some interesting data. Alkaloids from the plant show in vitro and in vivo anticholinesterase activities, perhaps explaining the depurative and ophthalmic activity. 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. These saponins also had antiarthritic and antiinflammatory activities.

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