The aromatic underground stem or rhizome of the perennial herb known from Biblical times, Acorus calamus L. is also referred to as 'calamus', or as the 'sweet flag'.
Children suffering from colic or adults who suffer from various kinds of indigestion have been known to take calamus for quick relief of their symptoms.
Skin Ointment
100% natural formula for all your skin problems. Excellent for diabetics.
The calamus, which closely resembles the iris in appearance, belongs to the family Araceae, and it grows abundantly under moist conditions, such as near a pond or a stream or swamp. This perennial herb is found in Europe, North America, and also in Asia.
At one time, the rhizome was used extensively in either powdered form on in chewable bits by people who wished to break their smoking habit, because the herb helped destroy the craving for tobacco that these people felt.
American Indians also used calamus for the treatment of a wide variety of ailments like stomach-ache, toothache and fever, and also for menstrual problems of several kinds.
The rhizome was so very popular with the indigenous Indians that it was used as a medium of exchange and most Indians treasured it as a valuable commodity of various uses.
However, in the year 1968 the US Food and Drugs Administration found that an Asian variety of calamus was capable of producing cancerous tumors in rats on which the herb was tested. This meant that the drug was banned and declared 'unsafe' for use.
The aromatic rhizome is often used as a real alternative spice in cooking, and the flavor that it lends to the food in which it is used is legendary.
Body Balm C - Pain Eraser
Cannabis pain killer - 100% natural and extremely effective with no side effects.
In fact, most modern experts on cooking recommend using this herb for treating digestive disorders, and also for relief from certain fevers and dyspepsia.
Calamus infusions were regularly used as one of the primary flavoring agents in commercial products such as tooth powders, tonics, beer, and also in bitters.
The medicated oil that can be made with calamus is stated to be quite volatile, and its taste and flavor and odor unique to the herb. The oil generally occurs in the range of amounts ranging from 1.5% to more than 3.5%.
There can be no doubt that calamus has great therapeutic and medicinal value, but the fact is that several years ago, one of the main ingredients of the oil of calamus beta-asarone (cis-isoasarone) was used on rats, and researchers found that calamus gave rise to malignant tumors in the duodenal regions of the rats.
This meant that the use of calamus in food or as a flavoring agent was prohibited thereafter, at least within the U.S.
Today, the spotlight is back on Acorus calamus, and experts have now revealed the truth that there are in actuality four varieties of the plant, each growing in different regions of the world.
Hand Cream
100% natural hand cream to keep your hands smooth, crack-free and protected from the elements.
Drug Type I was found growing in North America and its oil was found to be isoasarone free, while the oil of Drug Type II, found growing in Eastern Europe, from where it is taken to Western Europe to be processed contained less than 10% isoasarone. Drug Types III and IV were of the variety that contained more than 96% cis-isoasarone in its volatile oils.
Several pharmacological tests have been conducted on the four varieties of the calamus, and it was found that the isoasarone-free oil of medication type I was found to be extremely effective in the treatment of spasmodic activity, as a spasmolytic or in other words, an antispasmodic.
This was definitely more than the activity shown by Drug Type IV or Type II, whose oils were found to be isoasarone-rich or isoasarone-poor respectively.
What this in effect meant was that the calamus found growing predominantly in North America (Type I) was found to be the most effective for treating dyspepsia or other similar symptoms where anti-spasmodic treatment was necessary to provide relief to the patient, although it is a fact that the exact ingredients in the oil that provide this relief is yet to be established by researchers.
However, the fact that Type I does not contain the harmful carcinogenic isoasarone, which the other three types are found to be carrying makes it suitable for medicinal purposes, while the others cannot be used for similar purposes.
Hair & Scalp Revitalizer
Stop losing your hair with this outstanding, 100% natural formula.
FOR MEN AND WOMEN.
Dried rhizome.
Calamus has been used as an aphrodisiac in ancient Egypt and in India, for more than 2,500 years today.
This wonder herb has been used for a variety of purposes throughout the world, by different people suffering from different ailments and disorders.
While in Europe calamus was used as a stimulant for one's appetite, or even for other appetites, or to aid one's digestion, in North America the herb was used in the form of decoction for fevers, colics, and stomach cramps, while rhizome was chewed to help ease tooth ache.
The powdered form was taken to treat congestion. As a matter of fact, the calamus has been used extensively in Western herbal medicine to provide effective relief from digestive problems such as flatulence, bloating, and weak digestive function.
In Ayurvedic medicine too, calamus has been used to treat patients suffering from digestive disorders, as well as for 'rejuvenating' the brain and the nervous system of the user.
Calamus, particularly 'A. calamus var. americanus', also known as one of the best antispasmodics, relieves intense spasms of the intestines.
Calamus helps and relieves distended and uncomfortable stomachs, and also treats the intense headaches that are generally related to a weak digestion.
Taken in small amounts, the drug can help reduce and relieve acidity of the stomach, while larger amounts would increase deficient acid production.
This is a good example of the way in which the same drug, when used in different dosages, would produce entirely different results, and can therefore be used to treat different ailments.
Calamus oil has strong aromatic properties that have a relaxing effect. In aromatherapy, it is used to relieve nervous tension and stress.
In some countries, calamus is added to alcohol, and its essential oils are used as a flavor in the food industry.
Calamus is widely used in cosmetics. Extracts from the rhizome are a common ingredient in cosmetics for hair and scalp care. It strengthens hair follicles, prevents dandruff and accelerates the regeneration of the scalp.
The active compounds of the plant give hair the desired softness and fluffiness. Calamus oil applied to the skin has antifungal and antibacterial properties. For this reason, the preparation is especially recommended for acne-prone skin.
Calamus is widely used in the cosmetics and perfumery industry, as it is characterized by an intense, unique scent.
Calamus shampoos are also recommended for seborrheic skin as the plant has fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Calamus rhizome decoction and calamus oil can also be used for hair care.
In small quantities, the calamus herb can be used as a spice, and is even included in herbal mixtures. It is added to drinks: compotes, alcohol (dark beers from Stockton), cakes, desserts, and sweets.
Cakes, chewing gums, sweets, and alcohol are flavored with calamus oil.
Calamus tea is an excellent drink for digestion. Just pour a glass of lukewarm water over 1 tablespoon of dried root, cover and leave overnight.
In the morning, boil the decoction, drink 1/2 glass, and drink the second portion in the evening. Calamus tincture, which can be successfully prepared at home, also has a beneficial effect.
Calamus is reported to have originated from India, and it now grows in several parts of the world, in marshy and swampy areas where the soil is wet and damp.
Calamus grows in abundance near ditches, near lakes, ponds and marshes. Calamus is propagated by dividing the clumps of the rhizome and re-planting them in shallow waters.
The best time to carry this out is spring or early autumn. Harvesting can then be done as needed.
Much attention has been focused on the ingredient asarone in the volatile oil, which has been proved to be carrying carcinogenic properties when isolated.
However, the variety that is found growing in the United States of America, known as A. calamus var. americanus does not contain this ingredient, and can therefore be used in various preparations, and in India.
The herb has been supposedly used for thousands of years today, and there have been no reports of cancer arising from the usage of the herb to date.
This can be taken to mean that although the plant may be safe to use, more research is absolutely necessary before it can be promoted popularly.
Calamus contains mucilage, up to 3% volatile oil, bitter principles, glycoside, tannin.
Calamus is most often used internally in the form of an infusion for self-preparation. Its medicinal properties are also used in:
Calamus rhizome infusion is prepared from 0.5 teaspoon of crushed rhizomes poured with boiling water (approx. 250 ml).
The whole thing should be brewed for 1 hour, strained, and then consumed 2-3 times a day in the amount of 1/4-1/3 cup. The infusion used before a meal will facilitate digestion and have a calming effect.
In cosmetics and herbal medicine, calamus oil with a sweet, earthy-spicy aroma is also used. The preparation can be used in the form of a bath, massage, rinse or inhalation. The oil is also a common addition to creams and shampoos.
Although calamus is a plant with numerous medicinal properties, it is not without contraindications. Before starting to use calamus preparations, it is worth consulting a doctor or pharmacist, especially in the case of people with chronic diseases.
Calamus is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. The chemical compounds contained in calamus may have a teratogenic effect, i.e. cause developmental defects in the fetus.
Some people may also be hypersensitive to calamus, which may manifest itself in allergic reactions.
Calamus used in large quantities can lead to poisoning, so it is necessary to follow the recommended doses and not use calamus preparations for more than a few weeks at a time.
Calamus should not be used with antibiotics and antifungal drugs due to the synergistic interaction of the plant with these preparations. The herb reduces the drug resistance of fungi and bacteria, which affects the effectiveness of the administered drugs.
Calamus should also be avoided in the case of simultaneous use of sedative drugs. The reason for this is excessive sleepiness, which makes it difficult to function properly during the day.
Calamus powder taken before meals. Since calamus powder is bitter and unpalatable, it should be mixed with fruit juice, for example. Do not take more than 4 grams at a time.
Calamus root can be used to prepare infusions and decoctions, which are effective in treating digestive problems and infections.
To prepare an infusion, pour 1 teaspoon of dried calamus root with a glass of boiling water and leave covered for 10 minutes. The infusion prepared in this way can be drunk 2-3 times a day.
Calamus can also be used in the form of a tincture. To prepare it, pour 500 ml of alcohol (preferably vodka) over 50 g of dried calamus root and leave in a dark place for about 2 weeks.
After this time, the tincture should be strained and 10-15 drops taken daily, which aids digestion and has a calming effect.
Some people will probably be pleased to know that you can make a tincture from this useful herb. Of course, we don't drink it in glasses, we rather measure drops.
About 50 before a meal is enough to improve appetite and digestion in convalescents. On the other hand, after eating it will prevent stomach problems.
Let's add that the longer the tincture matures, the better it is. It gains the right strength after at least a year. The best one is from dried calamus rhizome.
If we don't want to wait that long and are put off by the bitter taste, there is also another, shorter method.
The treatment will be more "sweet" if we throw a teaspoon of cloves into half a glass of calamus rhizome and pour red wine over it. Note - it must stand for about 2 weeks. Such a mixture speeds up metabolism.
Calamus decoction added to a bath has a relaxing and anti-inflammatory effect. Such a bath can be helpful for skin problems, muscle pain and stress.
To prepare a bath, boil 100 g of dried calamus root in 2 liters of water for about 15 minutes, then add the decoction to warm water in the bathtub.
In case of weakness, prepare a bath for general strengthening (and also to strengthen potency). Put 20 g of dried nettle, 20 g of linden flowers, add 40 g of calamus to a few liters of water, bring to a boil and set aside.
Pour the strained liquid into a bathtub filled with warm water. To make good use of the remaining herbs, you can put them in a loosely woven bag and also put it in the bathtub. The bath should be repeated several times a week for two to three months.
Calamus oil can be used for massage, inhalation or added to a bath. In the case of inhalation, simply add a few drops of the oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam for a few minutes. This is an effective method in the fight against respiratory infections.
Calamus root can also be used externally in the form of ointments or compresses for wounds, ulcers or joint pain.
The ointment is prepared from dried calamus root and fat (e.g. lard), which is dissolved over low heat and mixed with calamus. Externally, calamus can be used for compresses on wounds that are not healing well.
A decoction (heat herbs in water at room temperature for several minutes) accelerates healing, and can also be used as a rinse after washing hair, or as a mouthwash in case of inflammation.
The herbal raw material is the calamus rhizome with bark (Calami rhizona crudum) and the debarked rhizome (Calami rhizona mundatum). Calamus oil (Calami oleum) is also available in herbal pharmacies.
Calamus rhizome can be obtained from its natural state in spring. Simply extract the rhizomes with a rake, then cut off the above-ground parts and roots with a knife. The rhizome should be cleaned, washed and cut into 15–20 cm pieces.
Dry the herb in natural conditions, in an airy and shaded place. The calamus rhizome can also be debarked - but first it should be dried and the bark removed.
Then the calamus is cut and dried. The dried raw material should be stored in an airtight container so that it does not lose its valuable properties. Calamus rhizome can also be purchased in herbal shops and pharmacies.
Calamus is effective when used in combination with other herbs. For example, for the treatment of flatulent colic, calamus can combine with ginger and wild yam. In the treatment of gastric conditions calamus can be effectively combined with meadowsweet and marshmallow.
For vitamin deficiency, you can prepare the following mixture: brew equal parts of calamus rhizome, dandelion root, mint, nettle, yarrow, blackcurrant leaves, hawthorn, rowan and rosehip fruit and drink three times a day.
For painful or scanty periods, brew equal doses of calamus, yarrow, cumin, lemon balm, valerian, sage, chamomile, rue and silverwort.
After pouring boiling water, leave for a longer time to allow the mixture to infuse, strain and drink. The best results are obtained by drinking three times a day.
A mixture of calamus, St. John's wort, lavender, angelica, valerian, knotweed, lemon balm, thyme, bogwort and woodruff brewed and used according to the above recommendations will help with stomach neurosis.
For rheumatism, a mixture should be made from calamus rhizome, couch grass rhizome, angelica, raspberry fruit, willow bark, viburnum bark, meadowsweet, motherwort, birch leaves, lady's mantle and restharrow. Brew and drink three times a day after cooling.
Remember that herbs work reliably, but you have to give them time. A single use is not enough.