The Insulin Plant
@gamayngbaki (1602)
Cebu, Philippines
December 10, 2020 12:46am CST
Do you have this plant in your garden? It's known as Costas igneus. It's more commonly known as insulin plant in India or fiery costas or spiral flag. A diabetic patient can chew on a fresh leaf for less than 15 days to lower blood sugar level. Studies have shown that chewing insulin plant leaves longer than 15 days also have harmful effects on our hearts.
It's bright red fruit is also beneficial to our hearts. Are you familiar with this plant?
17 people like this
16 responses
@oahuwriter (26778)
• United States
10 Dec 20
No, I've not heard of it. Very interesting! But you've got to know how to use it. I take collagen.
6 people like this
@oahuwriter (26778)
• United States
11 Dec 20
@gamayngbaki
I see. If your libraries open check herb books about it. Be sure before using it. Check what medical people and supplement makers like Nature Made's take on it is too.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26778)
• United States
12 Dec 20
@gamayngbaki
Good. Now you'll be safer. If you're taking meds good to discuss with your doctor about it too
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
11 Dec 20
@oahuwriter Thanks! Yes I will do that!
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
10 Dec 20
who in your family uses this plant?
5 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
11 Dec 20
@gamayngbaki but if a diabetic is already taking medicine, should they stop while chewing this?
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
11 Dec 20
@hereandthere I think they can take this to supplement their diabetic medicine. They can only take this insulin plant by chewing for less than 15 days only while their diabetes medicine is for lifetime intake.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
My sister and my brother in law who are right now living in the US requested me to buy this plant. They are both frontliners and they are also diabetics.
3 people like this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
10 Dec 20
My immersion partner told me about this plant when we were in a certain remote area. She said that the flower of the plant can also be used as an ingredients in salad.
3 people like this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
10 Dec 20
@gamayngbaki Yeah, I wish the same for you. Actually, the insulin plants we saw are used as a fence in the village and yes, they have lots of flowers.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
I saw a video on you tube of an insulin plant with its bright red fruit or flower. Yes it can be eaten and its also beneficial to our hearts. I'm so looking forward to my insulin plants flower or fruit.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
11 Dec 20
@ARIES1973 In the villages these insulin plants are so common that they are used as fences but here in the city, we have to buy them at a cost. Mine cost me 200pesos. The seller gave me a discount of 50pesos because I bought several other ornamental plants from her store hehe.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
No it's not the serpentina. I also researched about the serpentina because I thought they are one and the same but they're not. The serpentina is good for those with heart conditions and the serpentina's leaves are much smaller than the insulin plant and they are not swirling.
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
11 Dec 20
@ZedSmart Yes it is. It can survive in a shaded area and does not like much watering. Propagation is also easy. You can just take out the newly sprouted shoot or plant a cutting but this process take s long time to grow.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
I just recently purchased mine this month. I read somewhere that it grows to up to five feet. Mine is still a little over four feet but i have to tie it o a trellis so it grows straight and its swerling leaves are displayed. I have also noticed a new shoot coming up.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
Yes it's a big help for diabetics especially since insulin shots are very expensive. Some diabetics here in my country can't afford to buy their medicine so they turn to herbal medicine .
.
3 people like this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
@kay990 If you can find these insulin plants in your country it would be nice to plant some in your garden so that in case one of your friends need it it would be nice to be of help.
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
14 Mar 21
Rooting some insulin plant now. Thanks for the info there. The stalks were given to me two weeks ago and I didn't know how to use the plant.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
15 Mar 21
@gamayngbaki That certainly is a very helpful tip.
Repotted two stalks this morning. I was happy to see some roots. Hope though that the new plants could bear the heat.
Say, we chew and swallow a fresh leaf a day for 15 days less, ain't it? Just making sure.
Repotted two stalks this morning. I was happy to see some roots. Hope though that the new plants could bear the heat.
Say, we chew and swallow a fresh leaf a day for 15 days less, ain't it? Just making sure.1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
14 Mar 21
You're welcome! It's nice to share information here. You can also propagate the insulin plant just like propagating ginger. You can just cut off the part of the root that is sprouting from the main plant and then replant it to another pot. That is the easiest way to propagate insulin plants.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
15 Mar 21
@eileenleyva Yes but choose smaller leaves because my insulin plant right now is having very large leaves . I'm sure big leaves would be very difficult to chew.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
17 Mar 21
I was not familiar with this plant also. Someone just mentioned it so I got curious about it and looked for a plant I can purchase in my favorite plant store.
@mildredtabitha (16077)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 May 21
Not familiar with it. But I've learned about it. Thanks to your post
1 person likes this
@mildredtabitha (16077)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 May 21
@gamayngbaki I'm happy too. A friend shared the link to your article on one of my posts and so I came to learn from you
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
5 May 21
I'm happy that you learned something new from my post.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
5 May 21
@mildredtabitha Wow! Big "Thank You" to your friend for sharing this article with you.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
@Junbals fr Jun at long last you'll be able to benefit from your insulin plants in your backyard garden :) It's always my pleasure to be of help fr Jun!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
12 Dec 20
I have heard it about it but haven't seen it yet.
1 person likes this
@Cheyee (8362)
• Pakanbaru, Indonesia
10 Dec 20
@gamayngbaki the color of the flower is good too
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
@Cheyee Yes I agree. The one I saw on video was colored very bright red. I don't know yet if there are other variations in color.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
Yes I agree. Other plant lovers may want to have this plant because of its unique swirling foliage. Its also very nice as indoor plantbecause it does not like too much sun.
1 person likes this
@Sam_graphixer (2457)
• India
11 Dec 20
wow , very interesting . was not aware about this
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
11 Dec 20
I am not aware of this plant either! If not for my sister and my brother in law requesting me to buy one I wouldn't know this insulin plant exist at all.
1 person likes this
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
12 Dec 20
This plant is very common here in my country. Very recently especially during the lock down many turned to gardening as a hobby and also due to lack of money because of the pandemic many turned to herbal medicine to heal their illnesses. Insulin plant is one example that people turned to as supplement or substitute to their expensive medication.
@gamayngbaki (1602)
• Cebu, Philippines
10 Dec 20
Yes maybe your Mom knows this plant or maybe she knows it by some other name because it has several names. Maybe she knows of some other uses for this insulin plant.
1 person likes this
