Insulin plant : Balance the sugar

Insulin plant:

Diabetis is one of burning issue in the society.

Incidence of diabetis-currently it affects >62 million Indians, which is more than 7.1% of the population. 

Insulin plant is one of the best plant to control the blood sugar level which can be extensively found in rainy season. The native of this plant is south and central America. 

Latin name:Costus igneus Nak (syn. Costus pictusD. Don, Costus mexicanus Liebm ex Petersen or Costus congenitusRowle)

Family:Costaceae

Vernacular name: 

• spiral flag(as leaves are arranged in spiral manner) 
• fiery costus
• Step ladder
• Insulin plant

Health benifit:

• It is useful as dietary supplement in type 2 diabetis - the leaves of the insulin plant is used to treat diabetis. leaves can be dried and stored for longer use.
• Leaves are having diuretic and antioxidant property. 
• The leaves can be put into water with other anti diabetic drugs like methika, curry leaves etc and drink. The regular use of this helps to lowering of blood sugar level. 

Chemical composition:

C. igneus leaves - rich in protein, iron, and antioxidant components such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, terpinoids, steroids, and flavonoids.

Another verity of this plant is Costus speciosa is looks very similar to this plant.
Latin name: Costus specious (J. Koenig) 
Family: costaceae
Vernacular names:
Sanskrit : Kemhuka, Kebuka, Kemuka, Kembu
Bengali : Kevu
Hindi : Kebu, Kemuk, Kemuaa
Kannada : Chenglavaa-Koshtu, Changalvakoshtu
Malayalam : Channakkilannu, Channakkuvva
Marathi : Pevaa
Tamil : Koshtam
Telugu : Chenglavaa-Koshtu

Guna and karma of the drug:

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Pacana, Garbhasaya Sankocaka, Grahi, Hrdya, Krmighna, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Raktasodhaka, Dipana

केबुकं कटुके पाते तिक्तं ग्राहि हिमं लघु|

दीपनं पाचनं हृद्यं कफपित्तज्वरापहम् ||

कुष्ठकासप्रमेहास्रनाजनंवातलं कटु| (भा . प्र) 

Useful part: rhizome

Health benefits:
Fever, 
Asthma
bronchitis
Urinary disorders
Skin diseases. 

Many researchs proved its anti-cancerous, and antioxidants property of this plant. It also indicated in many infectious diseases like chikenfox, fever etc.