Insulin Ginger PLANT – Insulin Plant – Spiral Flag – Heirloom – Costus Igneus

Description

Insulin Ginger PLANT – Insulin Plant – Spiral Flag – Heirloom – Costus Igneus

Insulin Ginger PLANT – Insulin Plant – Spiral Flag – Heirloom – Costus Igneus is an eye-catching perennial with spiral-arranged leaves and an upright, clumping plant that can grow up to about one meter in height. It is typically grown as a decorative plant in southern India, and its leaves are taken as a dietary supplement to help treat diabetes mellitus. Numerous studies have been conducted to assess this plant’s potential as an anti-diabetic agent. The dehydrated leaves can be used to make powder, tinctures, and essential and infused oils. Read more interesting facts below. Note! It is related but different to the Spiral Ginger Costus barbatus!

Interesting facts: “Costus igneus, commonly known as insulin plant in India, belongs to the family Costaceae. Consumption of the leaves are believed to lower blood glucose levels, and diabetics who consumed the leaves of this plant did report a fall in their blood glucose levels. (Shetty et.al. 2010)”

Planting and growing tips:

1. Give it a good drink and place it in a half-shade position out of the wind.
2. Leave it in the original pot for a few days until it recovers from the journey.
3. Re-pot or plant into the ground at the latest when the roots start to come out of the bottom holes.
4. Watering straight after planting is essential! From then on as required.
5. It doesn’t like to sit in water so a well-drained position is best. All our edibles grow happily and quickly in slightly raised garden beds.
6. It does best in partial shade and in many types of soil, however, the better the soil, the quicker and better the plant will grow.
7. Grow in your garden or in a pot.

Additional notes:

• The price is for one young plant in a small pot from the mother plant, naturally grown with lots of love in my permaculture food forest in Pacific Haven QLD Australia. Sending within Australia only, not to NORFOLK ISLAND, NT, SA, TAS, or WA. Pick up by appointment only.
• Most of our nursery plants grow in a semi-shade. Introducing them to the sun slowly before replanting to their permanent position will promote healthy growth.
• Do your research before trying any new foods. Please also note our disclaimer in the footer of this page.

Do your research before trying any new foods. Please also note our disclaimer in the footer of this page.

References: Shetty, A. J., Choudhury, D., Nair, V., Kuruvilla, M., & Kotian, S. (2010). Effect of the insulin plant (Costus igneus) leaves on dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia. International Journal of Ayurveda Research, 1(2), 100-102. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7788.64396