Kands of Chhattisgarh, India 1. Keu Kand (Costus speciosus, family : Scitamineae)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The natural forests of Chhattisgarh are rich in natural population of Keu. Both Baichandi (Dioscorea sp.) And Keu are the source of diosgenin. Baichandi is superior source as far as the diogsgenin content is concerned. Keu is promising substitute to Baichandi). Although the drug industries differentiate these plants for their diosgenin contents but for the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh both herbs are valuable and for them no one is superior or inferior to other. Baichandi is also commonly found in natural forest like Keu. Both herbs are the important non wood forest produces having regular demand in national and international drug markets. In trade it is known as Kust or Kustha but among natives Keu is popular name. Few years back, many innovative herb growers of Chhattisgarh tried to domesticate this wild herb. They got success in its commercial cultivation. The production was good but when they analysed the produce, they found decrease in diosgenin content. At international market, the diosgenin content plays very vital role in fixing the price of produce. When these herb growers got information that this herb is already present in bulk in different parts of Chhattisgarh and it is wastage to add cultivation cost, they stopped work on this herb.

I have mentioned in my previous article on Gulbakawali that it is common observation in Amarkantak region that the Gulbakawali herb growing with Keu in forest naturally helps in increasing the medicinal properties of each other. Both herbs are of marshy or moist habitat. Botanically, Keu kand is an erect plant, having height upto 3 meters, root-stock tuberous, stem sub-woody at the base; Leaves 15-30x 5.75 cm sub-sessile, oblong, spirally arranged, silky - pubescent beneath, sheaths coriaceous; flowers in very dense spikes, many, bracts ovate, mucronate, bright red. Corolla tube short, lobes ovate-oblong, sub equal, lip white with yellow center, crisped, concave, disk with a tuft of hair at the base. Fruits capsule globosely trigonous, red, seeds black white aril. Flowering time August to December in Chhattisgarh conditions. According to the reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, the roots are used as medicine but for the traditional healers all parts are useful and used to prepare medicine. According to Ayurveda, Keu is bitter, useful in bronchitis, fever, dyspepsia, inflammations, anaemia, rheumatism, lumbago, hiccup etc. Not much have been written on other medicinal properties and uses of this valuable herb. During my visit to forests with the traditional healers, I learnt how to identify and select best quality Keu through visual observations. According to healers, the roots clearly indicate the medicinal properties of any Keu herb. The herb having soft roots is considered best. The herb having hard roots or hard patches are not preferred. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine, particularly in Ayurveda, another method is mentioned for selection of best Keu herb. The roots having the appearance of horns of dear must be preferred. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this selection method. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialised in use of Keu as medicine, always prefer to collect the roots themselves. They have not faith on Keu available in dried form in markets. They are well aware of adulteration. Unfortunately, the buyers at national level are not much aware of this adulteration.

When I interviewed many buyers regarding adulteration in Keu, most of them denied and showed ignorance towards this malpractice. This is not good news. As these buyers are acting as sources for many leading pharmaceutical companies, you can simply understand what herb is being added in the name of Keu in different formulations available in markets. According to the traditional healers, by nature Keu is hot. In tribal belts of Chhattisgarh, the natives cooked the roots and use it as food. In case of contagious skin troubles, the natives collect the leaves and boil it in water. The decoction is prepared and the patients are suggested to wash affected parts with this decoction. The traditional healers never miss to add the dry roots in herbal formulations used as aphrodisiac. According to the healers alone Keu can be used as aphrodisiac but its regular use can create many problems. To nullify the after effects, it is used in combination with other herbs. The flowers are also used as medicine. The decoction is prepared by boiling the freshly collected flowers in water and the patients having the problem of Bavasir (Piles) are advised to wash the anus with this decoction. In the plains of Chhattisgarh, the aqueous paste of Keu roots prepared by mixing rose water is used for external application in case of common swellings in extremities. It is one of the popular home remedies.

Many of the above mentioned uses have not been reported in reference literatures. I am feeling proud to document this very first information. The increasing demand of Keu in drug markets clearly suggests that there is a need to develop scientific cultivation practices well in time, so that in coming years, when it will be necessary to start its commercial cultivation in order to reduce the pressure on natural forests, the herb growers can get immense benefit by adopting the cultivation practices. Thank you very much for reading the article.