Home :: Calamus

Calamus Herb - Benefits And Healing Power

Botanical Name: Acorus calamus

Indian Name: Bach

Description and Composition

Calamus, also known as sweet-flag, is a perennial herb with long creeping and aromatic rhizomes or underground stems sprouting leaves. The flowering shoots of the plant are supported by a large leaf-like structure called spathe. It has pale-green, small flowers, in 5 to to cm long cylindric spikes and yellowish fruits. The dried rhizomes of the plant constitute the drug calamus and is used in medicine.

The dry rhizomes of calamus contain a yellow aromatic The essential oil contains calamen, calamenos, calameon and asarone. Indian calameon oil contains asarone, small amounts of sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols. The odour of the oil is ascribed to an unidentified constituent. The leaves contain oxalic acid and calcium.

Benefits and Healing Power of Calamus Herb

The rhizomes are of great medicinal value. The root-stock of the plant is an aromatic stimulant. bitter tonic and expectorant. It relieves flatulence, counteracts spasmodic disorders and induces vomiting. It regulates menstural periods. It is also laxative, diuretic and aphrodisiac.

• Stomach Disorders :- Calamus gives relief to heavy stomach by relieving flatulence, colic and increasing appetite. The burnt root mixed with some bland oil such as refined coconut oil or a poultice of the root may be applied over the abdomen in treatment.
• Diarrhea and Dysentery :- The drug is a time-tested remedy and is an ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines for chronic diarrhea. It is also effective in chronic dysentery, due to the presence of tannins. Its infusion can be given to children suffering from these ailments.
• Asthma :- Calamus is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma; it removes catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. About 65 centigrams of the herb is taken every 2 or 3 hours in this condition.
• Common Cold :- The herb is also useful in treating common cold. A small piece of the rhizome is roasted and powdered. A pinch of this powder taken with honey provides great relief. For infants, the paste of calamus mixed in breast milk is touched on the baby's tongue. Another convenient method of giving the medicine to infants is to apply a little paste on the mother's nipples.
• Whooping Cough :- The powder of the roasted herb is an effective home remedy for children suffering from whooping cough. A pinch of this powder can be given with honey. Being antispasmodic, it prevents the severe bouts of coughing. For smaller children, the dose must be proportionately smaller.
• Intestinal Worms :- Calamus is effective in expelling intestinal worms. The powdered root is taken for this purpose.
• Mouth Disorders :- The herb is useful in treating mouth ulcers, coating on tongue and rawness, that is, inflammation of the skin. A small piece of the herb should be rubbed on the tongue to obtain relief.