ഇൻസുലിൻ ചെടി...... Costus igneus

ഇൻസുലിൻ ചെടി

Name : Costus igneus

Family : Costaceae

പ്രമേഹരോഗികൾ ഇൻസുലിൻ ചെടിയുടെ ഇലകൾ ചവച്ചുതിന്നാൽ ഇൻസുലിൻ കുത്തിവെച്ചാലുള്ള ഫലം ലഭിക്കുമെന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Insulin plant (Costus ingneus) is a relatively new entrant to Kerala and India. The plant is a late entrant to Kerala Ayurvedic medicinal herb scene mostly from USA. Insulin plant has not got a Malayalam name yet, except the occasional use of insulin chedy or insulin chedi, where chedy means a plant. The catchphrase of this plant is ‘A leaf a day keeps diabetes away’. 

The plant is characterized by large fleshy looking leaves. It grows very quickly. Propagation is by stem cutting. It grows in slightly shady areas. 

Diabetes patients are advised to chew down a leaf in the morning and one in the evening for a month. Allopathic doctors too recommend it and it is found to be effective in bringing blood sugar levels under completely under control. There is also dried and ground powder of the leaves now available in the market.