Ancient chinese used the rhizome against swelling and constipation. Dioscorides, the classic greek practitioner of medicine used the smoke of the plant breathed through a funnel as a treatment for the cough. One leaf of alocasia indica roxb, is finely chopped and given with in morning for 34 days for lack of estrus. Acorus calamus name synonyms acorus aromaticus gilib. I probably know calamus more deeply than any other plant ive worked with, yet in spite of that or perhaps because of it i find it most difficult to capture what i know of it in a way that adequately conveys its essential nature. Colic has been treated by combining the rhizome with magnesia and chalk. Some studies also suggest that the herb has ability to treat neuropathic pain. Haimavati, vacha, and various rushes and sedges,is a plant from the acoraceae family, in the genus acorus. It is indeed interesting to see that ayurvedic texts like the cakradatta have recommended the purification of calamus root before use tripathi, 1991. Acorus calamus is a perennial growing to 1 m 3ft 3in by 1 m 3ft 3in at a medium rate. Acorus calamus and alocasia indica contain ethno veterinary practice. Indian acorus oil had shown sedativetranquillizing action in rats, mice, cats, dogs and monkeys10.
Combine traditional ecological knowledge with other ways of knowing, including natural. The rhizomes were utilized extensively by the chinese, indians and american indians as well as by other cultures, and many of these uses continue to this day. Acorus calamus sweet flag calamus pfaf plant database. Despite safety concerns, calamus is commonly used by mouth for different stomach problems, including ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining gastritis, diarrhea, intestinal gas flatulence, upset stomach, and many more. Reddy and reddy 2000 described a treatment based on an acorus calamus powder solution for the. Experimental evaluation of antidepressant effect of vacha.
It is indeed interesting to see that ayurvedic texts like the cakradatta have recommended the purification of calamus root before use. The presence of rosemary in ones body is believed to enhance clarity of mind and memory, akin to the belief surrounding sweet flag acorus calamus in india. Sweet flag, calamus, acorus gramineus plant delights nursery. Calamus is also used as a medicinal herb to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Acorus calamus is an herb that is used in ancient ayurvedic and chinese medicine and is known to enhance the cognitive abilities of a human being. Acorus calamus is a tall perennial wetland monocot plant from the acoraceae family. Pdf in china, species in the genus acorus are used for many different. The basic mechanism behind the plant revolves around the interaction of the gabaa receptors. Ac has been used as traditional chinese and indian prescriptions for its beneficial effects on memory disorder, learning performance, lipid peroxide content, and antiaging and anticholinergic activity. Acorus calamus is commonly known as sweet flag in india. It has many traditional uses all over the world and is. Pdf effects of acorenonetype acorus calamus essential oil on rat. Acorus calamus commonly called sweet flag is a deciduous, spreading, marginal aquatic perennial that features irislike, swordshaped leaf blades to 34 wide typically growing in basal clumps to 30 tall.
The root of the plant is internally used to treat bronchitis, sinusitis etc. The ethnobotany of sweet flag, acorus calamus araceae. Analgesic and cytotoxic activity of acorus calamus l. Drugs were dried and ground to small pieces at the bhu pharmacy and were taken to department of medicinal chemistry, banaras hindu university, for alcoholic extraction. Hungary water prepared from rosemary is considered to be a revitalizing agent and the herb has an old reputation for improving memory. It has a long history of use as a medicinal and culinary plant, dating back 2,000 years or more, and. Medicinal action and usescalamus was formerly much esteemed as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic. From the results, it was observed that the percent protection of writhing was. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Acorus calamus overdose other psychoactives welcome to.
This is a decoction used for theailments of urinary stones. Calamus can be incorporated into a variety of external preparations and topical applications. Acorus calamus, a semiaquatic herb with creeping rhizomes, shows diverse. The scented leaves and rhizomes of sweet flag have been traditionally used as a medicine and the dried and powdered rhizome has a spicy flavour and is used as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg for its odor. A fluid extract is an official preparation in the united states and some other pharmacopceias, but it is not now official in the british pharmacopceia, though it is.
Pdf in serbia and the surrounding countries, acorus calamus l. The powder material was merged in ethanol and the homogenate was kept for 4. The medicinal properties of acorus gramineus, or known as sweet flag or shi chang pu in pinyin, have amazed the herbalists since a long time ago. The leaves of acorus calamus have a lemony scent as well as the roots have a sweet fragrance. Acorus calamus is considered in this treatment as a variable species, and infraspecific taxa are not recognized because there is an. The aim of the present paper is to provide information regarding the ethnopharmocology, ethnobotany, therapeutic uses and scientific studies carried out on sweet flag acorus calamus linn. Acorus calamus is used as a sedative to induce sweating. For equations that cannot be entered in a single line, use the. Apart from it, calamus oil is used in essential oil therapy for the similar benefits of the calamus roots. Acorus calamus sweet flag has a long history of use and has numerous traditional and ethnomedicinal applications. Acorus calamus was established more than 15 years ago in pakruojis the wonderful nature retreat in northern lithuania, near where the river kruoja flows and also in the vicinity of one of the most beautiful and largest lithuanian mansions that has survived to the present day.
The rhizome of acorus calamus are used traditionally for treatment of emetic, stomachic, dyspepsia, colic, remittent fevers, nerve tonic, in bronchitis, dysentery in children, insectifying and in. The sweetness and bitterness of sweet flag acorus calamus l. Roots and rhizomes extracts ofacorus calamus linn possess cns depressant, tranquilizing, inhibiting the spontaneous motor activity11. There has been much hue and cry about the toxicity of a. One ounce of this decoction is given to adults thrice a day and add one teaspoon full of sugar in case of children, twice or thrice a day. Calamus is a greatly valued herb in ayurveda, as its stimulating aroma rejuvenates the brain and the nervous system.
The plant has a rich ethnobotanical history dating back possibly to the time of moses in the old testament of the bible and in early greek and roman medicine. Moreover, pharmacological studies have revealed that acorus rhizome and its constituents, particularly a and. The leaves are strongly scented rhizomes and have been traditionally used since centuries. Calamus, also referred to as sweet sedge or sweet flag, is a reedlike plant that grows near water. Acorus calamus is the latin name for a simple lithuanian. Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag, is a seasoning and herb traditionally used in ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine for its cognitiveenhancing properties preclinical studies suggested that acorus calamus supplementation had potential for treating neuropathic pain unfortunately, supplementation of acorus calamus is not practical. Neuromodulatory effect of acrous calamus leaves extract on. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern united states and.
Acorus gramineus shi chang pu chinese herbs healing. It is a perennial, semiaquatic and smelly plant, found in both temperate and sub temperate zones. Experimental evidence for use of acorus calamus asarone for. Although native to europe, it was introduced into north america by settlers in the 1600s, and has naturalized over time throughout. Acoraceae rhizome decoction is frequently used for the.
Dec 29, 2015 acorus calamus medicinal uses and pictures. Since ancient times, it has been used in various systems of medicines such as. Acorus calamus is used in the conditions of vata and kapha, dysmenorrheal, nephropathy, calculi, stragury. The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by insects. Acorus calamus is a reedlike, aquatic plant with a pungent smell that has been used medicinally since biblical times. They also use this to treat epilepsy, dizziness and deafness. Acorus calamus is a perennial plant with grasslike stems that grow up to five feet tall. It has many traditional uses all over the world and is wellknown as a digestive and carminative. Acorus gramineus japanese calamus is said to contain a ton of betaasarone, more than the others, so it should be the most carcinogenic, and many say its very weak compared. Pdf an overview on traditional uses and pharmacological. It is an integral part of the traditional indian and chinese systems of medicine and has a long history of use wu et al.
An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological. Acorus calamus also called sweet flag or calamus, among many common names is a species of flowering plant, a tall wetland monocot of the family acoraceae, in the genus acorus. Due to its immense medicinal potential and various uses, the unsustainable. Kishtwar in the past used to be an independent hill principality and was merged with the state of jammu. Jul 03, 2016 vacha acorus calamus sweet flag plant medicinal parts. About europe pmc funders joining europe pmc governance. In fact, there was no change in sensation of hot and cold and the gums were still sensitive to pressure and touch. Calamus comes from the greek word calamos which translates to a reed. It is in flower from may to july, and the seeds ripen from july to august. The vacha plant acorus calamus roots were procured from the market after proper identification and selection. The traditional use of acorus calamus in indian ayurvedic system is widely accepted. In the vedic periods it was used as a rejuvenator of the brain and nervous. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the. Obtain samples of acorus calamus rhizomes, and submit them for testing to determine.
Sweet flag, acorus calamus, one of the few extratropical members of the araceae, is a semiaquatic component of aquatic habitats throughout the temperate to subtemperate regions of eurasia and the americas. I successfully used acorus calamus to relieve severe nerve pain for over 48 hours. Acorus calamus also known as sweet flag is a perennial wetland monocot. Dioscorides, the classic greek practitioner of medicine used the smoke of the plant breathed through a. Sweet flag,acorus calamus, one of the few extratropical members of the araceae, is a semiaquatic component of aquatic habitats throughout the temperate to subtemperate regions of eurasia and the americas. Acorus calamus supplement health benefits, dosage, side. It is a tall perennial wetland monocot with scented leaves and more strongly scented rhizomes, which have been used medicinally, for its odor, and as an allegedly psychotropic drug. Sweet flag acorus calamus cultivation and economics aspects g b lokesh department of agricultural economics university of agricultural sciences, gkvk, bangalore560065 email. Acorus calamus sweet flag, andor its bioactive phytochemical alpha. Calamus comes from the greek word calamos which translates to. The odor is aromatic and agreeable, and taste pungent and bitter. Mainly the rhizome of acorus calamus is used because the content of the essential oil is highest in the rhizome. Although used in traditional medicine over centuries to treat digestive disorders and pain, there is no clinical evidence for its safety or efficacy and ingested calamus may be toxic leading to its commercial.
Sweet flag is useful for the treatment of skin infections such as eczema and scabies. According caraka and susruta 600bc acorus calamus is a drug for. Li bai and meng jiao, two famous poets in tang dynasty, ever wrote poems to praise its extensive medicinal uses, in particular in prolonging life and staying young. An advantage to obtaining the whole root of this plant is that when aromatic herbs are powdered, the volatile oils. Acorus calamus has been found to contain an alkaloid that may be carcinogenic. Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag or calamus sanskrit. Acorus calamus has long been known for its medicinal value, and has been cultivated in asia for this reason. However, calamus oil is a potent medicine, which has more potency as compared. The ethanolic extract has antiproliferative and immunosuppressive properties and is. The benefits and side effects of calamus acorus calamus. Acorus calamus leaves, rhizomes and its essential oil has many biological activities like antispasmodic, carminative and also used for treatment of epilepsy, mental ailments, chronic. The plants leaves range from light to lush green in color, and are gladiate, jutting skyward like swords.
Acorus calamus sweet flag has been a symbolic plant in chinese culture for many. Acorus calamus relieved the toothache agony without producing the numbness associated with other painkillers. Native to eastern countries, acorus calamus has since spread to europe, japan and the northern united states. Acorus calamus sweet flag is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like, fever, asthma. Walt whitman wrote 39 poems for calamus in his famous work, leaves of grass. Review acorus article calamus linn a herbal tonic for.
Medicinal uses in central asia, acorus calamus has been used as a medicine for over two thousand years being a traditional folk cure for everything from arthritis to nervousness. Common names balinis ajeras in lithuanian bastardsennep in danish. In the rat, these bilateral eminences have merged so that in coronal sections, the area postrema. Antimicrobial activities of the crude methanol extract. The genus acorus has three species, the deciduous acorus americanus, acorus calamus and the evergreen acorus gramineus. Most pharmacological activities of acorus calamus was reported by using roots and rhizomes. Stewardship guidelines for culturally important plants karimaly. The leaf paste of the wild herb acorus calamus has acted as a wound healer when applied externally. The aim of the present article is different uses of acorus calamus in cns disorders. The leaves of acorus calamus are fragrant, the smell can be a means of recognizing it. The insecticidal properties of alcohol extracts of rhizomes of sweet flag against the fully grown. Herbalists generally develop formulas that combine antimicrobial activity, organ support, and immune stimulation where appropriate. Acorus calamus has diploid, triploid, and tetraploid forms. In studies with isolated guinea pig trachea and atria, a crude extract of a.