Where is it found?

This rhizomatous herb is native to tropical Mexico; Central America; western South America (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru), as well as in the Caribbean region. It is also cultivated in India (Quattrocchi, 2000, 2012; Mabberley, 2008; Johnson, 1999; Morton, 1981; Liogier, 1990; Nunez-Melendez, 1981).

Parts of the plant used:

The leaves, flowers, rhizomes (underground stems), and tubers (Mendoza-Castelán and Lugo-Pérez, 2011; Berdonces, 2009; Mabberley, 2008; Sánchez-Monge, 2001; Adame and Adame, 2000; Martínez, 1989; Morton, 1981; Liogier, 1974).

How is it used?

The roots, leaves, flowers, and rhizomes can be decocted in water and taken as tea. The crude drug (whole tubers) are sold in certain marketplaces in Mexico.

What is it used for?

The main uses for this plant in Mexican traditional medicine are to treat diabetes, urinary problems, venereal disease (gonorrhea), as a diuretic, and to treat kidney cancer (Adame and Adame, 2000; Johnson, 1999; Martínez, 1989; Morton, 1981). The young stems are edible (Berdonces, 2009).Various species belonging to the genus Costus are used for food, paper or medicine throughout the American, Asian, and African tropics (Berdonces, 2009; Sánchez-Monge, 2001; Morton, 1981; Burkill, 1966).
The species C. spicatus is native to the American tropics and commonly known as spiked alpinia, spiked spiral flag, Indian head ginger, and sour cane. In Spanish and Portuguese, the plant is commonly known as caña de Cristo, caña agria, caña de jabalí, caña de puerco, caña de venado, costo de Arabia, canna de macaco, and canna do brejo (Wieresma and León, 2013; White, 2002; Sánchez-Monge, 2001; Schoenhals, 1988).

In Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, the leaves are decocted in water to make a tea to treat flatulence and rheumatism. A tea made from the rhizomes and roots is taken to treat urinary problems, kidney stones, nephritis (kidney inflammation), inflammation of the urethra, as a diaphoretic (to promote sweating), as a diuretic, and as an emmenagogue (to promote menstruation). The acidic juice from the young rhizomes (stems) is taken to treat diabetes, bronchitis, headaches, colds, and fever. The roots are decocted in water to make a tea to treat gastritis, liver problems, and snakebite. The juice from the flowers is taken against internal parasites and for the treatment of vaginal infections (Berdonces, 2009; Liogier, 1990, 1974; Morton, 1981; Nuñez-Meléndez, 1981).