Added: 10/14/2005 |
Being Extraordinary on the Surface Acorus Calamus is Extraordinarily Efficient against Numerous DiseasesAcorus calamus is an aromatic, perenniall plant, looking like a flag. The leaves of the plant are radical, long, erect, sword-like and they have rather an unusual coloring: bright green and pink or reddish at its base. It has a triangular stalk and green-yellowish flowers. It flourishes only in wet climate. That is why it can be found in various muddy places, meadows and swamps, along lakes and streams. Central Asia is considered to be the motherland of calamus herb (from there it has come to other countries). Now the plant grows in Southern Siberia, China, North America, Japan, Europe, Burmah and Ceylon.
Acorus Calamus leaves also possess aromatic characteristics, but not to such degree as the rhizome. They are not used for medical purposes. Probably Scripture tells about this very plant. Sweet flag is widely used for medical purposes in India. In the country it is sold in large quantities in the markets. In India acorus calamus is so popular for curing bowel disorders with children that they say a pharmacist is submitted to death when he doesn't open his own shop at night to sell the herb when he is required to do that.
The Hindus widely use calamus herb. Firstly, they use it for emetic purposes when taken at large doses. Secondly, they use it as stimulant, tonic and carminative when taken in small quantities. And finally, the hindus employ acorus calamus for different nervous diseases, such as paralysis. The Mahometans employ the plant internally to treat calculous conditions and suggest that teething children bite upon it. In Ceylon infusion is said to be an effective anthelmintic, especially for children. Acorus Calamus decoction is found to be useful while diarrhea, infantile bronchitis, dysentery, distressing cough and cold.
The rhizome, the part which is employed, is creeping, fleshy, rather spongy, thick and has a lot of rootlets. It can reach several feet at length. On the upper surface it has leaf-scars of triangular form which get hairy after being dried. On the leaf's lower surface one can see wavy and zigzag lines. They are composed of circular dots which indicate the place where were the rootlets. As a rule the calamus rhizome is wrinkled longitudinally. Its color is brownish-yellow or pinkish after they are peeled. Calamus rhizome possesses pleasant aroma and an unusual aromatic taste. When the roots are dried, they are about 5 inches long. They have fawn or light-brown color outside, and roseate or whitish color inside, outside they are corrugated and have cork-like or spongy fracture. With age calamus rhizome loses the strength and can be destroyed by worms. Its medical properties are taken up by water and alcohol. In order to be preserved, it is peeled.
As a medicine, calamus may be used for different purposes. The root of the plant is carminative, excitant, tonic and is a good addition to various stimulants and tonics. The use of the medicine can be effective for curing atonic dyspepsia, flatulent colic and feebleness found in digestive organs. Also it strengthens the effect of quinine or cinchona. The herb can also be a substitute, in the form of syrup, for Godfrey's cordial. Calamus makes a good combination with magnesia to treat flatulent colics with children.
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