Insulin plant

Product Description

The plant is characterized by large fleshy looking leaves. The undersides of these large, smooth, dark green leaves have light purple shade. The leaves are spirally arranged around the stem, forming attractive, arching clumps arising from underground rootstocks. The maximum height of these plants is about two feet. The flowers are orange in color and are beautiful, 1.*-inch diameter. Flowering occurs during the warm months. And they appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches. The flower petals are quite sweet and nutritious. Its a lower grower and makes a great ground cover.

Common name
Botanical name: Costus igneus. Costus igneus common name is *Fiery Costus* or *Spiral Flag*, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Costaceae family.

Medicinal use
In Ayurvedic treatment diabetes patients are advised to chew down the Insulin plants leaves for a month. The patient has to take two leaves per day in the morning and evening for one week. The leaves must be chewed well before swallowing. After one week the patient should take one leaf each in the morning and evening. This dosage should be continued for *0 days. It is found to be effective in bringing blood sugar levels under completely under control.

In Traditional Medicine it is also used to Promotes longevity, Treats rash, Reduces fever, Treats asthma, treats bronchitis and  Eliminates intestinal worms.

Research
According to International Journal of Ayurveda Research a new study on Insulin plant (Costus igneus) was published recently. The leaves of insulin plant (Costus igneus) reduced the fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels, bringing them down towards normal, in dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in rats. Reduction in the fasting and the postprandial blood sugar levels with leaves of insulin plant was comparable with that obtained with Glibenclamide **0 µg/kg at **0 mg/kg/day and **0 mg/kg/day of powdered leaves of the insulin plant(Costus igneus).