The stem decoction is widely taken to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Stem sap is acid and rubefacient and burns on open wounds, but it is also anodyne and healing and is applied to different skin ailments. Stem sap is applied to treat urethral discharges, venereal diseases, jaundice and to prevent miscarriage. Leaf sap or a rhizome decoction is taken to treat malaria. It is also used to treat edema and fever. Leaf sap is used as eye drops and as nose drops to treat headache with vertigo. ![]() A rhizome decoction or the raw rhizome is taken to treat leprosy and venereal diseases. Rhizome pulp is applied to abscesses and ulcers to heal them, applied to teeth to cure toothache and mixed with water to treat diarrhea and amoebic dysentery. A cold water extract of the stem is taken to treat small epileptic attacks. In Nigeria, the debarked stem is chewed to treat nausea and to quench thirst. A stem decoction, mashed stem or the pounded fruit, sometimes mixed with sugar cane juice, are taken to treat cough, respiratory problems and a sore throat. The same infusion or a rhizome infusion is taken to treat stomach complaints. An infusion of the inflorescence is taken to treat tachycardia. In Ohafia, Abia State, Nigeria and in some parts of Anglophone Cameroon, the decoction of the plant is administered to diabetic patients to alleviate the clinical signs. It ameliorated all signs associated with adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in rats and a dose of 100-300 mg/kg daily is well-tolerated in humans. It has been shown to reduce carageenan-induced edema in the rat paw, and check diarrhoea caused by arachidonic acid and castor oil. Soothing formulation for rheumatic pains is prepared with boiled leaves. Whole its boiled root is applied to cuts and sores. The decoction of the stem or powdered fruits is used as cough medicine. In Nigeria, the plant extract is used as fodder to treat goats with retained placenta. This plant is used as a remedy for cough, inflammation, arthritis, as laxative, aparient, purgative, diuretic, in rheumatism and treatment of several other diseases. The stem, seeds, leaves and rhizomes are harvested from the wild plant and they contain several bioactive metabolites. Anglophone Cameroon calls it “Monkey sugar cane”. ![]() It is known as “Okpete” or “Okpoto” in Igboland, “Kakizawa” in Hausa “tete-egun” in Yoruba and “Mbritem” in Efik all in Nigeria. The plant is commonly known as ginger lily or bush cane. ![]() It can be found in the forest belt of Senegal, South Africa, Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The plant Costus afer Ker-Gawl (Costaceae) is among 150 species of stout, perennial and rhizomatous herbs of the genus Costus.
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