She mentioned that she has rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years… She showed me her fingers were swollen… Sea/Marine Qust is a little paler in colour and also milder in taste and more suitable for administering to children. Qust al Bahri root before it is powdered for use. Photo: tibbenabawi.org

There are essentially two types of Qust, Indian (Qust al Hindi) and Marine/Sea (Qust al Bahri). Both come in the form of a dried root and Qust has a praised high status in the ahadith which is on par with Hijama cupping. Costus is a medicinal plant that grows in the high valleys of Kashmir and the Himalayas. It’s a remedy which I recommend you always have at home as part of your natural medicine cabinet. Make sure that the Qust Al Hindi roots you are using is thoroughly cleaned because if may contain many contaminants. A Hadeeth of Saheeh Bukhari mentions it to be a cure for seven ailments, including Tonsillitis and Pleurisy. The Hadeeth even specifies that it should be administered from the nostrils for Tonsillitis, and from the side of the mouth (buccal) for Pleurisy. The other five benefits have not been mentioned. Having looked deeper to find the other five benefits, researchers came up with about thirty other benefits of Al Qust al Hindi, which are mentioned below. Different screens/monitors render colours differently meaning colours may not look exactly like they do on the screen. «The results of phytochemical screening suggest that, Saussurea costus roots are rich source of various bioac[1]tive constituents such as alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, fl avonoids, phenols, quinones, resins, ster[1]oids, tannins and terpenoids. Gilani, A. H., Shah, A. J., and Yaeesh, S. Presence of cholinergic and calcium antagonist constituents in Saussurea lappa explains its use in constipation and spasm. Phytother.Res 2007;21(6):541-544. View abstract. Ummu Qays bint Mihsan said: I heard the Messenger of Allah - صلى الله عليه وسلم - say: It is upon you to use ‘Al-‘Uood al-Hindi’ [i.e. Qust/Costus], for indeed it contains seven cures; it is inhaled through the nostrils to relive throat aches/tonsillitis and placed in the sides of the mouth for the relief of Dhaat al-Janb [1] Collected by Bukhari and Muslim.

In the Sunan, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) praises the excellence of Qust as a general remedy and he is also reported mentioning it as a remedy for inflammation/infection of the throat as well as in another Hadith mentioning it with Hijama. Qust contains helicene and benzoic acid, both of which are substances that kill germs, hence the benefit in the treatment of infections and inflammations. Reference to Hadith regarding the general excellence of Qust, and partnering it with Hijama in the same sentence. Rhee, J. K., Baek, B. K., and Ahn, B. Z. Structural investigation on the effects of the herbs on Clonorchis sinensis in rabbits. Am J Chin Med 1985;13(1-4):119-125. View abstract. Anas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he was asked about the wages of the one who cups others. He said, “Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was cupped by `Abd Taiba, to whom he gave two Sa of food and interceded for him with his masters who consequently reduced what they used to charge him daily. Then the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, “The best medicines you may treat yourselves with are cupping and sea incense.’ He added, “You should not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the tonsils or the palate with the finger, but use incense.”

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Research has shown the power of Indian Costus as a chemical preservative. These preservatives can minimise infections and food contamination. Qust (Costus) also against victular and quartan fever (fever that comes every 4 days), the pain on the side of the body and poisons. When the face is anointed with Qust (Costus) that has been ground and mixed with water and honey, it heals spots that appear on the face. Galinus said that Qust (Costus) ‘heals tetanus, the pain on the sides and kills spots (which he called pumpkin seeds). Allergy – Some people are allergic to Qust Al Hindi (Indian costus). Allergic reactions include vomiting, diarrhea, itching etc. Such people should avoid using Qust Al Hindi (Indian costus). It was narrated by Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, “The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers [as a fuel]. Their wives will be Houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits tall.”Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 544

She says she was praying surah Fatiha, surah falaq and surah nas and one other dua for pain while applying the oil on the affected areas. Al Imaam Ahmad and the authors of the Sunnan collected a Hadeeth on the authority of Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah – صلى الله عليه وسلم – said: Long, L., Soeken, K., and Ernst, E. Herbal medicines for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology.(Oxford) 2001;40(7):779-793. View abstract.

RAGHAVAN, P., NAGENDRA, A. S., and DUTTA, N. K. Total alkaloids of Saussurea lappa in treatment of bronchial asthma. An assessment of its therapeutic value by clinical and ventilatory function studies. J Postgrad.Med 1962;8:158-169. View abstract. Distribution: Himalayas, Kashmir, Jammu, Western Ghats, and the Kishenganga Valley. What Is Qust Al Hindi ?