WILD BOAR CANE: CHARACTERISTICS, BENEFITS AND FORMS OF CONSUMPTION - SCIENCE - 2025

The cane boar (Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw.) Is a herbaceous plant belonging to the high bearing Costaceae family of the Zingiberales order. Commonly known as sour cane, deer cane, mountain cane, San José rod or old man's bordón.

It is a native species of Mexico adapted to environmental conditions of warm climates, between 800-2600 meters above sea level and tropical forests. It is widely used as a medicinal plant to alleviate various diseases thanks to its healing properties.

Wild boar cane (Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw.). Source: Joan Simon from Barcelona, ​​Spain, via Wikimedia Commons

In traditional Latin American medicine, boar cane cooking is used for astringent, purifying and diuretic purposes. As well as in the treatment of ulcers, kidney problems, vaginal irritations and excess vaginal discharge or leucorrhea.

The smoothie of fresh parts of the plant - stems, leaves - is effective for the treatment of bladder infections, nephritis and diabetes. The leaves macerated in fresh water relieve insect bites, also favor the treatment of malaria and hepatitis.

General characteristics

Morphology

The wild boar cane is a perennial herbaceous plant with unbranched stems that reaches 1-2 m in height. The strong, cylindrical stem has articulated rings from which the elongated, oval leaves spring in a spiral.

The flowers are seen as a group of spikes with multiple leaf-like leaflets of white, rubbed and reddish tones. Flowering occurs only in adult plants, in the juvenile stage only the bright green leaves are appreciated.

Habitat and distribution

Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. Is a native Mexican species associated with vegetations of tropical forests and mountain mesophilic forests. It is common in areas with a temperate, warm and semi-warm climate, located between 800-2600 meters above sea level.

It is a plant that develops in cool climates and humid soils on the banks of rivers or lagoons. It does not support direct sun exposure, so it requires enough shading to express its greatest vegetative potential.

It is distributed in America from the tropical region of Mexico, the Caribbean area to South America -Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil-. It has been reported as a medicinal plant in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Chemistry

The phytochemical information has only allowed to determine that the species has the flavonoids kaempferol, cyanidin, quercetin, and the anthocyanin delphinidin. These elements act as antioxidants, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory, diuretics, anticancer and antiepileptic drugs.

Properties

Wild boar cane has diuretic, astringent and cleansing properties that make it effective in relieving urinary stones, bladder inflammation and nephritis. Likewise, it is recommended to cure ailments and inflammation of the urinary tract and to eliminate kidney stones.

Wild boar cane leaves. Source: Yercaud-elango, from Wikimedia Commons

Health benefits

This species is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of urinary tract or kidney problems. It is useful to improve kidney disease or "bad urine" and to treat kidney cancer.

On the other hand, it is used as a diuretic, for the treatment of diabetes and the cure of venereal diseases, especially gonorrhea. In addition, it is recommended to relieve mumps, skin irritation and infections at the level of the eyes or "bad eyes".

Kidneys

The disease of men or "bad urine" is a disorder related to eating habits or poor position during work. Excessive intake of liquids such as molasses - canned honey, brown sugar, brown sugar -, coffee, beer, or working too long bent over.

The symptoms of "bad urine" are manifested with a strong burning when urinating and a continuous urge to empty the bladder. Likewise, pain at the level of the belly and when urinating, with a whitish foam in the urine.

The decoctions of the cane of the plant are used as an alternative remedy to relieve inflammation of the urinary tract. It is used to eliminate kidney stones, treatment of nephritis and increases the volume of urine.

Liver

The diuretic effect of wild boar cane cleanses the liver of toxins, improving the metabolization of nutrients and fats. The decoction of the root acts as a liver remedy, favoring the antioxidant action at the liver level.

Diabetes

High levels of glucose in the blood can be regulated with an infusion of wild boar cane leaves. A vinegar made from wild boar cane is used to balance blood sugar levels and regulate blood pressure.

Wild boar cane spikes and flowers. Source: Linrx, from Wikimedia Commons

Forms of consumption

The whole plant is used from the wild boar cane: leaves, roots, rhizomes, tender stems and flowers. It is usually boiled in water and is taken as tea, even when it is consumed fresh or in macerates.

Decoction

Decoctions are prepared at a rate of 50-100 grams of roots, with well-crushed leaves or stems for each liter of water. The use of each part of the plant is a function of the inherent property of each structure.

For rust disease, it is recommended to boil clean, thin stems of wild boar cane without leaves. The patient should be given a warm potion in the morning and another in the evening.

Direct way

In the event that the person cannot urinate or feels a lot of burning, it is advisable to chew the fresh and tender stem. A similar effect is provided by drinking a potion of pieces of tender stems soaked in water overnight on an empty stomach.

2-3 fresh leaves are usually liquefied in a glass of water, the mixture is strained and diluted in a liter of fresh water. This preparation is sweetened with brown sugar and stored in the fridge to drink during the day; relieves inflammation of the urinary tract and kidneys.

For conditions in the mouth it is recommended to chew a piece of tender stem. When high fevers occur, a bath prepared with the juice of the stem diluted in cool water lowers the body temperature.

Eye drops

In case of eye infection, the direct application of the cane extract can relieve discomfort. A tender stem is cut and squeezed to extract a few drops that are placed directly in the eyes.

Precautions

The intake of any part of the wild boar cane in any format is restricted during pregnancy and lactation. Likewise, its use is not recommended in patients with symptomatic treatment for diabetes, as incompatibility may occur.

The use of any medicinal plant should be supervised by a medical professional. In both scientific medicine and traditional healing, self-diagnosis and subsequent self-medication should be avoided.

References

1. Castañeda-Antonio, MD, Ibarra-Cantu, MG, Rivera-Tapia, JA, Portillo-Reyes, R., Muñoz-Rojas, J., Munguía-Pérez, R., & Hernández-Aldana, F. (2017) Excerpt of Costus spicatus and its application as an inhibitor of microorganisms. Ibero-American Journal of Sciences. ReIbCi Vol. 4 No. 4. ISSN 2334-2501
2. Wild boar cane (2009) Atlas of the Plants of Traditional Mexican Medicine. Recovered in: medicinatraditionalmexicana.unam.mx
3. Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. (2018) ITIS Report. Taxonomic Serial No.: 501647. Retrieved from: itis.gov
4. González Stuart Armando (2019) Caña Agria. Herbal Safety. Recovered at: herbalsafety.utep.edu
5. Ocampo Viveros, Zuleima and Navarrete, Ana Cruz (2010) Medicinal uses of wild boar cane (Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw.) Traditional Medicine. Nursing school. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Recovered at: tlahui.com
6. Paes, LS, Mendonça, MS, & Casas, LL (2013). Struturais and phytochemical aspects of vegetative parts of Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. (Costaceae). Rev Bras Plant Med, 15, 380-390.