Rhizomes propagate easily, and the species has spread throughout northeast and central united states. Calamus uses cultural primarily, sweet flag is or was known by the american indian tribes and early settlers for its medicinal value. Calamus comes from the greek word calamos which translates to a reed. An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological. The sweetness and bitterness of sweet flag acorus calamus l. 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.
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 leaves are strongly scented rhizomes and have been traditionally used since centuries. An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological profile. A brief search of any of the literature databases pubmed.
Acorus calamus is found all over europe, russia, china, japan, australia, india, the middle east, and north america. Pdf acorus calamus is a herb used for the appetite and as an aid to the digestion. An overview article pdf available in journal of medicinal plant research 425 december 2010 with 8,311 reads how we measure reads. Usda nrcs rose lake plant materials center alternate names calamus uses cultural primarily, sweet flag is or was known by the american indian tribes and early settlers for its medicinal value. 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. The benefits and side effects of calamus acorus calamus. In particular, the sterile triploid acorus calamus has been dispersed by this means. Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag, is a seasoning and herb traditionally used in ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine for its cognitiveenhancing properties. These plants are sometimes mistakenly referred to as sedges or rushes.
The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by insects. 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. Remnants of the plant were said to be found in the tomb of tutankhamen. In the vedic periods it was used as a rejuvenator of the brain and nervous system. Health benefits of acorus calamus essential oil hb times.
It is widely employed in modern herbal medicine as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic. Calamus comes from the greek word calamos which translates to. Moreover, pharmacological studies have revealed that acorus rhizome and its constituents, particularly a and. It was brought to europe by tatars in the middle of the 16th century as they used it to clean their drinking water, and later it spread mainly as a medicinal herb, for which it has one of the best reputations all over the world. Acorus calamus root and oil health benefits, uses, effects. The aim of the present article is different uses of acorus calamus in cns disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate analgesic and cytotoxic activity of acorus calamus l. The rhizome and leaf essential oil compositions of acorus calamus l.
Chemical composition of root essential oil of acorus. Dioscorides, the classic greek practitioner of medicine used the smoke of the plant breathed through a. A fluid extract is an official preparation in the united states and some other pharmacopceias, but it is not. The scented leaves and rhizomes of sweet flag have been traditionally used as a medicine and the dried and powdered rhizome has a. Due to its medicinal uses, the rhizome of sweet flag is in high. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Review acorus article calamus linn a herbal tonic for. The use of traditional medicine in both developing and. Although the preparation of this species and the ailments it treats vary somewhat. Feb 15, 2014 an overview on traditional uses and pharmacological profile of acorus calamus linn.
Medicinal action and usescalamus was formerly much esteemed as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic. The leaves and rhizomes of these wetland monocot plants have a strong fragrance. Unfortunately, supplementation of acorus calamus is not. In studies with isolated guinea pig trachea and atria, a crude extract of a.
Acorus calamus is a tall perennial plant belonging to the acorus genus. Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag or calamus sanskrit. In spite of common names that include the words rush and sedge, it is neither a rush nor sedge. The rhizomes contain oil which has many medicinal uses. It is in flower from may to july, and the seeds ripen from july to august.
This page was last edited on 22 november 2014, at 06. Calamus oil is used in perfumery an alcoholate is made with 3 kilos to 3. Acorus calamus araceae, commonly, known as sweet flag is a. Susruta 600bc acorus calamus is a drug for epilepsy, promote intellect in children, memory and used to boost up the activities of brain in the form of brain tonic. The scented leaves and more strongly scented rhizomes have traditionally been used medicinally and to make fragrances, and the dried and. Stevia has been introduced to the kenyan market as one of the cash crops for agrobased industry. Preclinical studies suggested that acorus calamus supplementation had potential for treating neuropathic pain. Pdf acorus calamus is monocot plant of immense medicinal potential. Jul 18, 2016 the plant is known as bach, calamus oil, golomi, sweet flag, ugragandha, vacha, and vekhanda but is different than acorus gramineus, which is known as japanese or dwarf sweet flag. Taking cue from physical and economic scarcity farmers in karnataka have planned for the. Although the preparation of this species and the ailments it treats vary somewhat among the tribes, rhizomes are the most commonly used part.
The rhizome of the plant is used for its medicinal purposes and as an ingredient in perfumes due to its strong scent. Aerial part of acorus calamus swelling and for constipation. Acorus calamus also called sweet flag or calamus, among many common names is a tall perennial wetland monocot of the acoraceae family, in the genus acorus. Sweet flag has a very long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions. Acorus calamus is a sacred plant been held in high esteem by north american indians for hundreds of years, its been used ritualistically in ancient china, its revered in ayurvedic medicine systems to this day, south american indigenous cultures use it to this day in a similar way that coca leaves were used, and it is deeply rooted in. Phytochemicals of acorus calamus sweet flag journal of. Three important chemical constituents of acorus calamus. Chemical composition of root essential oil of acorus calamus.
The basic mechanism behind the plant revolves around the interaction of the gabaa receptors. According to khare, 2004 3 the good olden medicinal ghee or the nervine tonic contains acorus calamus, baccopa moneira and alpinia speciosa. Some studies also suggest that the herb has ability to treat neuropathic pain. Acorus calamus var americanus vicki fisher june 6, 2018 i have a bog and a shallow one at that to be safe i bring some calamus in with my other tropical plants during the winter. Acorus calamus is a perennial growing to 1 m 3ft 3in by 1 m 3ft 3in at a medium rate. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Wildlife sweet flag provides habitat for waterfowl. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Pdf acorus calamus sweet flag is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves.
Acorus calamus also known as sweet flag is a perennial wetland monocot. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Among the many, they would eat the roots in 1inch sections as a general tonic and in 2inch sections when on hunts. It is a tall perennial wetland monocot with scented leaves and more strongly scented rhizomes, which have been used medicinally, for its.
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. The acorus calamus has a number of health benefits that can be attributed to the makeup of the plant. The herbs rhizome, which has a fragrance of lemon or mandarin, is distilled into an aromatic oil which was valued for its ability to heal. It is an integral part of the traditional indian and chinese systems of medicine and has a long history of use wu et al. Acorus calamus is considered in this treatment as a variable species, and infraspecific taxa are not recognized because there is an. Despite safety concerns, calamus is commonly used by mouth for different stomach problems, including ulcers. In addition, it has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac, and is still used for amorous purposes in modernday egypt. An illustrated flora of the northern united states, canada and the british possessions. The rhizomes of acorus calamus are widely used medicinal herbs mh. 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. Although native to europe, it was introduced into north america by settlers in the 1600s, and has naturalized over time throughout.
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. It has many traditional uses all over the world and is wellknown as a digestive and carminative. 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. An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological profile of acorus calamus linn. Pharmacological properties and ayurvedic value of indian. It originated in europe but extensively used in ayurveda, particularly to enhance memory.
In present study, the root essential oil composition of a. The seeds also are dispersed by water along streams or river margins. 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, 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.
It has many traditional uses all over the world and is. Bach is a popular medicinal plant used in several ayurvedic formulations in india. Sweetness and bitterness of sweet flag acorus calamus. Acrous calamus americanus root extract shamans garden. Analgesic and cytotoxic activity of acorus calamus l. The rhizomes are used for treatment of neurasthenia, chronic bronchitis, diarrhea, abdominal distention, chills, colds, externally for abscesses.
Structures of various chemical constituents of acorus calamus protection. The article of the state pharmacopoeia ussr xi edition of rhizomata calami is still working normative documents for this. Rhizomes are collected by women and children during late november to february. Acorus calamus sweet flag calamus pfaf plant database. Dec 29, 2015 acorus calamus medicinal uses and pictures. Plant products are used as main source of medicine throughout the world. Acorus calamus l medicinal uses medicinal plants archive. Araceae have been investigated in detail from various parts of the world, but the root oil composition has rarely been investigated. Calamus, also referred to as sweet sedge or sweet flag, is a reedlike plant that grows near water. Acorus calamus is a reedlike, aquatic plant with a pungent smell that has been used medicinally since biblical times. Haimavati, vacha, and various rushes and sedges,is a plant from the acoraceae family, in the genus acorus. It should be peeled, finely chopped and soaked in several changes of water first. Due to its medicinal uses, the rhizome of sweet flag is in high demand and thus overexploited. An overview on various properties and pharmacological studies.
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. Acorus calamus supplement health benefits, dosage, side. Cultivation and uses of stevia stevia rebaudiana bertoni. Medicinal action and uses calamus was formerly much esteemed as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic. Calamus acorus calamus var americanus potted plant. Acorus calamus, a sterile triploid, was introduced to north america by early european settlers, who grew it for medicinal uses. Acorus calamus or sweet flag calamus as it is also known as is a perennial herb belonging to the acoraceae family. We are still open for nursery plant sales, and look forward to your live root and plant orders. Acorus gramineus shi chang pu chinese herbs healing. Acorus calamus sweet flag, andor its bioactive phytochemical alpha.
696 326 946 1544 1499 626 898 783 1461 547 250 1080 1443 1116 1174 139 205 1381 830 113 761 1439 570 1150 1206 787 641 432 362 526 328 212 864 1014 1399 159 1607 1174 670 391 76 907 526 574 454 47 1278 183 318