Family: Costaceae

Genus: Costus

Species: Comosus

General Description: Red Flower Ginger's stalk grows in spirals that resemble bamboo. The canes are long and this plant like to grow in clumps. It has broad light green leaves that appear to hover over other smaller plants.

The flower emerges from the top of the cane. The powerful beauty of this plant is its bright red conical shaped flower that has the appearance of beeswax. This bloom shows up in spring and can remain on the plant for nine months. After each cone develops, several bright yellow flowers peek out from under the cone.

Location: Red Flower Ginger finds its home in the rainforests of Costa Rica, and now is a favorite patio or potted plant throughout the modern world.

Uses: Red Flower Ginger is a rainforest plant that has many uses in tribal and herbal medicine, both historically and today. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as a general tonic and systemic stimulant; in particular it is prescribed for the treatment of abdominal gas and pain, pain from liver disease and jaundice, gall bladder pain, constipation, and asthma. It also stimulates the appetite has antiseptic properties.

The value of this plant is also recognized in South East Asia and Tibet. Tribal Suriname herbalists extract a substance from the stem and use it to treat gonorrhea, the common cold and eye ailments.

In centuries old Tibetan medicine, the root is used to treat abdominal gas, irregular menses, asthma and other pulmonary disorders, and some kinds of muscle diseases. The oil of Red Flower Ginger is used to treat rheumatism. Some believe the essential oil slows the process of hair turning gray.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.