Acorus calamus, also known as sweet flag, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Araceae. It is mainly produced in provinces such as Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Fujian, with the largest production in Sichuan and Zhejiang. It has the effects of stimulating appetite, resolving phlegm, refreshing the mind, relieving cough and asthma, and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat symptoms such as phlegm obstructing the mind, insomnia and forgetfulness, tinnitus and hearing loss, chest tightness and pain, cough and asthma, poor appetite, senile dementia, and skin diseases.
Resolving Dampness and stimulating appetite
Acorus calamus has a warm and pungent nature and contains volatile oil. Taking Acorus calamus internally can promote the secretion of digestive juices and inhibit abnormal fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract. It has the effects of resolving dampness, invigorating the spleen and stomach, promoting the circulation of stagnant qi, relieving bloating, and stimulating appetite. It can be used to treat symptoms such as dampness obstructing the middle burner, chest tightness and abdominal distension, poor appetite, and a greasy tongue coating.
Refreshing the mind and resolving phlegm
Acorus calamus has a pungent, opening, bitter, drying, and warming nature, with a strong aroma. It has the effects of refreshing the mind, resolving phlegm, expelling turbidity, and repelling filth. It can be used to treat conditions such as stroke, phlegm obstructing the mind, confusion, inability to speak, phlegm-heat seizures, and other symptoms.
Refreshing the mind and enhancing intelligence
Acorus calamus enters the heart meridian and has the effects of opening the orifices of the heart, enhancing intelligence, calming the mind, and improving hearing and vision. It can be used to treat conditions such as phlegm clouding the orifices, lack of nourishment to the mind, coma, insomnia and forgetfulness, excessive dreaming, palpitations, and restlessness.
Protecting blood vessels
Acorus calamus also has the effects of improving blood rheology, anti-thrombosis, and protecting against myocardial ischemic injury.
Improving memory
The decoction of Acorus calamus contains volatile oils, alpha-asarone, beta-asarone, which have sedative, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, and memory-enhancing effects, as well as anti-brain injury effects.
Antibacterial effect
Acorus calamus high-concentration extract has different degrees of inhibitory effects on skin fungi such as Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton concentricum, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum ferrugineum, Microsporum lanosum, Epidermophyton inguinale, Epidermophyton flocosum, Malassezia furfur, and Nocardia asteroides.
Treating neurogenic vomiting
Acorus calamus can be used as a single herb decoction to treat neurogenic vomiting. A compound preparation of Acorus calamus can be used to treat sequelae of concussion, neurasthenia, myocardial infarction, loss of voice, and chronic throat diseases.
Relieving asthma
Alpha-asarone in Acorus calamus has the effect of relieving asthma, counteracting bronchial constriction caused by histamine, and also has antitussive effects. It has an improving effect on lung ventilation function in patients with bronchial asthma.
What are the nutritional values of Acorus calamus?
Acorus calamus mainly contains beta-asarone, alpha-asarone, acoradiene, alpha-copaene, acoramone, amino acids, organic acids, and sugars.
1. The decoction of Acorus calamus has the effects of resolving dampness, stimulating appetite, refreshing the mind, and enhancing intelligence. It can be used to treat conditions such as phlegm obstructing the mind, insomnia and forgetfulness, tinnitus and hearing loss, chest tightness and pain, poor appetite, and senile dementia.
2. Acorus calamus contains volatile oil, including alpha-asarone and beta-asarone, which have sedative, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, relieving asthma, improving learning and memory, and anti-brain injury effects.
3. Acorus calamus extract can be used for protecting blood vessels, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory purposes, and treating neurogenic vomiting.
Who should avoid using Acorus calamus?
1. Acorus calamus has a pungent and warm nature, and is not suitable for those with Yin deficiency and blood heat, or those with cold and fever.
2. Infants and young children should use it with caution, as Acorus calamus has a pungent and warm nature and is not suitable for infants and young children.
How to consume Acorus calamus?
1. Treatment for insomnia and excessive dreaming:
9g of Longzhi and 6g of Acorus calamus are wrapped in a gauze bag and placed in a thermos, then 600ml of boiling water is poured in. It can be consumed as tea when thirsty, once a day.
2. Treatment for infantile febrile convulsion:
1 liang each of Acorus calamus, Xuanlian, Cheqianzi, Shengdihuang, Kushen, and Digupi are ground into powder and made into small honey pills. Take fifteen pills after meals, both morning and evening.
3. Treatment for phlegm obstructing the mind:
5g of Acorus calamus and 5g of fresh ginger are crushed to extract the juice and taken orally.
