Botanical Name: Acorus calamus

Common Name:

English: Calamus Root
Sanskrit: Ugragandha, Ugra, Sadgrantha
Unani: Waj-e-Turki, Waj
Also, known as: Sweet flag root, Myrtle Flag, Sweet Grass, Sweet Sedge, Sweet Rush Root, Sweetrush, Sweet cane, Gladdon, Sweet myrtle, Myrtle grass, Cinnamon sedge,Vacha,Vachaa,Ugragandhaa,Ugraa,Golomi,Shadgranthaa,Shataparvaa,Tikshnagandhaa, Kshudra-patra, Maangalyaa, Ghorbach, Vasambu, Vasa, Varch, Vasambu, Ghodavaca, Ghoduvaj, Ghodvach, Pillai,Maruntho, Vaca, Vekhandas, Narru Berua, Baje, Bach, Gora bach, Beewort, Bitter pepper root, flag root, Gladdon, myrtle root, myrtle sedge, pine root, rat root, Sea sedge, sweet cane, sweet cinnamon, sweet grass, sweet myrtle, sweet root, Changpu Shoubu, Changpo, Bacch, Bajai, Vekhand, Vasambu, Vadaja, Vayambu, Haimavati, Bhutanashini, Jatila, kampean and Bojho

Habitat: Native to Europe, Asia, and North America

Origin: India

Harvested: Wild or cultivated

Parts Used: Root

General Information:

The plant can very easily be cultivated from a root cutting, and will grow quickly once established.

Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag, is a plant that grows 30 to 100 cm tall. From more than last 2500 years, this herb traditionally used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for its cognitive-enhancing properties. Acorus calamus, is a perennial plant with creeping and extensively branched, aromatic rhizome, cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm thick, purplish-brown to light brown externally and white internally.

Grows on the banks of shallow, clay-bottomed lakes, rivers, and ponds. When it is not flowering, the sweet sedge looks a lot like yellow iris, but is easy to identify by the pleasant lemony smell of its aromatic oil and by the unusual crimped edges of the leaves, the fragrant odor it emits when crushed, and the unusual flower spadix. Semi-aquatic perennial. Easy to establish from rhizome. Grow in wet, mucky, rich soil, full sun to part shade.

The leaves have smooth edges, which can be wavy or crimped. Leaves resemble those of the iris, but are greener, and are flattened on one side, with smooth margins and parallel veins. Some leaves develop a cylindrical semi-erect spike or spadix, 2 to 4 inches long, covered with tiny greenish yellow flowers in a diamond-shaped pattern.

How to use:

Powdered Herb:

There are different ways to use powdered herb.

Food Preparation: You can add powdered herbs to any super food herbal smoothie, sauces, spreads and even cookies. Also for children, you can mix powdered herbs with honey or glycerin to make a paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help the medicine go down. This method is also known as "Electuaries".

Capsules: Encapsulating your own powdered herb at home, give you assurance that the contents of the capsules are pure herb and no filler or any other products. These capsules can be taken with liquid.

Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.

Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Precautions:

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Calamus Root Powder