Costus refers to a family of plants encompassing about two hundred different species; among them are marine costus and Indian costus. Many hadiths mention costus for its various benefits.
Costus capsules can be used to cure the common cold, ease menstrual pain, help with kidney and liver problems, certain cancers of the mouth, rheumatism, or respiratory problems. Costus is also a natural dewormer, it is sedative, aphrodisiac, and stimulates the body during physical exertion. In addition, it can help heal serious wounds, or even cure certain skin conditions.
Costus can be taken both externally and internally. Ground and mixed with olive oil, it can be made into an ointment after letting the mixture sit for fifteen minutes. For the face, it is combined with honey; it can also be used in the bath to disinfect the body, or even during hijama (cupping) to disinfect the cups and prevent scarring.
It can also be consumed with honey, used for stomach problems, or inhaled for throat infections or even tuberculosis.
The two hadiths about costus
Umm Qays bint Mihsan reports that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Use this Indian wood (al-'ud al-hindi), for it contains seven remedies; it is inhaled through the nose for throat inflammation ('udhra) and administered through the side of the mouth for pleurisy (dhat al-janb)" (al-Bukhari 5692, Muslim 2214). The context: the mothers of Medina used to press the palate of children suffering from throat inflammation, a painful gesture; the Prophet ﷺ reproached them for it and pointed to costus instead. The second hadith, reported by Anas, places costus alongside hijama among "the best remedies" (al-Bukhari 5696). Hadith scholars specify that this "Indian wood" is the qust, of which Ibn al-Qayyim describes two kinds: the white, called marine (bahri), and the black, called Indian (hindi), the black being warmer. These are the "numerous hadiths" the professor summarizes; the uses he lists afterward (colds, menstruation, kidneys, skin, exertion) come from Arab pharmacopoeia and from Ibn al-Qayyim, not from the hadiths themselves.
Which plant, and which to buy
The costus of the hadiths is the root of Saussurea costus (also called Saussurea lappa), a plant from the highlands of the Himalayas, Kashmir, and Pakistan, also used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. The "marine costus" and "Indian costus" sold in stores are most often the same species, more or less light-colored depending on preparation. It is bought as whole root or powder, from a supplier who states the species; anonymous, very cheap powders should be avoided, as roots from other plants, sometimes toxic, have been sold under this name.
The professor's preparations, with dosages
| Use | Preparation | Dose and duration |
|---|---|---|
| Throat inflammation, sore throat, colds | The hadith's use: a pinch of fine powder inhaled through the nose, or better today, a pinch in a little olive oil placed in the nostrils; inhalation of a teaspoon in a bowl of hot water | Twice a day, three to five days |
| By mouth (stomach, worms, menstruation, immunity) | A quarter to half a teaspoon of powder in a spoonful of honey, or in 500 mg capsules | One to two doses per day, courses of 10 to 15 days, one month break between courses |
| Skin, wounds, hijama | Powder mixed with olive oil, left to sit for fifteen minutes (the professor's recipe), as an ointment; or with honey for the face | One application per day on clean skin; disinfecting hijama cupping points |
| Bath | Two tablespoons in bathwater | Once a week |
| Ruqyah | With Qur'an-recited water and sidr leaves, following the practice of raqis | See the remedies for occult ailments |
What pharmacology has confirmed
- A comprehensive 2024 review catalogs the demonstrated properties of Saussurea costus in the laboratory and in animals: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-ulcer, and hepatoprotective, with sesquiterpene lactones (costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone) as the active compounds (Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2024).
- The reference ethnopharmacological review confirms its traditional uses against asthma, inflammation, ulcers, and digestive disorders, with convincing animal data (J Ethnopharmacol, 2007).
- Root extracts are active against several bacteria and fungi, including those affecting the throat and skin (An Acad Bras Cienc, 2023).
What is still missing: a clinical trial in humans, for throat inflammation, menstruation, or immunity. The professor's uses therefore rest on the hadiths, tradition, and a coherent pharmacology, which is already a great deal, but one cannot say that it "cures certain cancers": the anticancer studies are done on cells.
Contraindications and precautions: the liver
Costus is an active plant, not a harmless spice. Its lactones are irritating, and at high doses or over a prolonged course, the root can strain the liver; tradition itself limits it to small amounts. Rules: no more than two consecutive weeks by mouth, no "tablespoon" doses, no costus for pregnant women (it stimulates the uterus and brings on menstruation, as the professor himself states for PCOS), not advised for nursing mothers, never by mouth before age 6 (the hadith's use in children is nasal, in a minute amount), caution under liver treatment, blood thinners, or immunosuppressants. It can cause allergies in people sensitive to Asteraceae (chamomile, arnica). Unusual fatigue, dark urine, or yellowing of the eyes during a course require stopping and consulting a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What does the hadith say about Indian costus?
"Use this Indian wood, it contains seven remedies: it is inhaled through the nose for throat inflammation and administered by mouth for pleurisy" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ advised mothers to use it instead of pressing children's palates.
Indian costus or marine costus?
Ibn al-Qayyim distinguishes the black (Indian, warmer) from the white (marine, milder). In stores, it is most often the same root, Saussurea costus, more or less light-colored. What matters is having the species stated on the label.
How is Indian costus taken?
Through the nose or by inhalation for the throat; a quarter to half a teaspoon in honey for internal use, in a course of 10 to 15 days maximum; as an ointment with olive oil for the skin.
Is costus dangerous?
In small doses and over a short course, no. In excess or over a long course, it can strain the liver. It is forbidden during pregnancy and by mouth for young children. And unlabeled powders without a stated species should be regarded with caution.
Can it be given to a child with a sore throat?
This is the very use of the hadith, but through the nose, in a minute amount: a pinch in a drop of olive oil at the edge of the nostrils, or an inhalation. No swallowed powder before age 6, and see a doctor if the fever lasts more than two days.
