Kohler's Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887
Calamus (Acorum verum, Acorus of Dioscorides)
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578 |
Pseudoacorus
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563 |
Local variety of Calamus used in Tibetan Medicine. (Adam, 2016)
Botanical name:
Acorus calamus (syn A. vulgaris, A. aromaticus, A. odoratus; Calamus aromaticus)
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm and dry. Pungent, Bitter
Classification:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES. 2B ATTENUATERS. 2C INCIDERS. 2G. CLEANSING. 2H. CARMINATIVES. 2I. ANTISPASMODICS
2S. STRENGTHENING MEDICINES
3C. ALEXIPHARMICS. 3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS. 3F. LITHONTRIPTIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3M. ARTHRITIC.
3N. EMETICS
4a. CEPHALIC. 4c. CARDIAC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4i. UTERINE. 4k. ARTHRITIC
Acorus calamus (syn A. vulgaris, A. aromaticus, A. odoratus; Calamus aromaticus)
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm and dry. Pungent, Bitter
Classification:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES. 2B ATTENUATERS. 2C INCIDERS. 2G. CLEANSING. 2H. CARMINATIVES. 2I. ANTISPASMODICS
2S. STRENGTHENING MEDICINES
3C. ALEXIPHARMICS. 3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS. 3F. LITHONTRIPTIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3M. ARTHRITIC.
3N. EMETICS
4a. CEPHALIC. 4c. CARDIAC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4i. UTERINE. 4k. ARTHRITIC
ADVERTISEMENT:
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Damp-Phlegm, Benefits Brain and Nerves: (TCM, West, Tibet, Ayurveda)
-Special medicine to restore Memory and Brain function
-Epilepsy, Headache, Vertigo, Dizziness, Paralysis
-Dullness of the Senses, Deafness, Loss of Speech, Stuttering, Head Trauma
-promotes alertness and increases intelligence and memory (Ayurveda)
2. Moves the Blood and Qi, Clears Damp, Resolves Stagnation: (TCM, West, Tibet, Ayurveda)
-promotes Menstruation, used for stoppage or painful Menstruation
-moves the Blood; internally and externally for Bruising, Trauma, Blood stagnation
-"improves the complexion" (Avicenna)
3. Clears Damp, Moves Qi, Benefits the Stomach: (TCM, West, Tibet, Ayurveda)
-promotes appetite and digestion; Indigestion, Colic, Diarrhea
-obstructions of the Liver and Spleen
4. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Warms the Kidneys: (West, Tibet, Ayurveda, TCM)
-Edema or obstructed Urine from Cold and Damp
-lack of Bladder control
-Arthralgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (TCM, Tibetan Medicine)
5. Resists Poison: (West, Tibet, TCM)
-classically used against various Poisons
-Infectious and Epidemic diseases; Plague; both to preserve and cure
6. Emetic
-decoction has been used as an emetic
7. Externally:
-applied as a fomentation for colic and abdominal pain
-applied to Wind-Cold_damp type nerve, muscle and joint pains
-"useful for treating corneal thickness and opacity" (Avicenna)
-externally for Sores and Scabies
-Pityriasis and Leukoderma (Avicenna)
-decocted in wine and gargled to clear Phlegm and Damp from the Head
-pain of the stomach or abdomen, powder, fry and apply the powder while hot (TCM)
Dose:
... available in PRO version
Substitutes:
... available in PRO version
... available in PRO version
Substitutes:
... available in PRO version
Main Combinations:
Calamus, Galangal
Calamus, Peony
Calamus, Rue
1. Epigastric pain and distention, nausea, poor appetite from Damp-Cold-Phlegm, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
2. Warm and strengthen the Kidneys, Brain and Nerves; Epilepsy, Poor Memory, increase Libido, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
3. Epilepsy, Hysteria, Headache, Vertigo, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
4. Poor Memory, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
5. Also for Poor Memory, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
6. Strengthen the Brain, Mental Fatigue, Stress, following Brain Injury, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
7. Wind-Phlegm-Heat diseases of the Head such as Epilepsy and Seizures, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
8. Schizophrenia, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
9. Stomach weakness, Gastritis, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
10. Stomach and Kidney weakness, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
11. Gastritis with irritation, Colic, combine Calamus with ... available in PRO version
12. As a diuretic, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
13. Chronic Internal Bleeding, Calamus with ... available in PRO version
14. Syphilis, make an ointment Calamus with ... available in PRO version
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Major Formulas:
Syrup of Calamus (Wirtzung)
Electuary of Calamus (Mesue)
Medicine for Infants (Pillaru Marundu) (Siddha)
Cautions:
1. Very warm and dry, therefore not suitable for Yin deficiency.
2. Due to the potential Liver toxicity of ß-asarone, it should not be used long-term, or in those with Liver disease. The American Acorus calamus var. americanus does not contain ß-asarone so has been recommended.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water, Candied and Confected root, Distilled Oil, Extract
Syrup of Calamus (Wirtzung)
Electuary of Calamus (Mesue)
Medicine for Infants (Pillaru Marundu) (Siddha)
Cautions:
1. Very warm and dry, therefore not suitable for Yin deficiency.
2. Due to the potential Liver toxicity of ß-asarone, it should not be used long-term, or in those with Liver disease. The American Acorus calamus var. americanus does not contain ß-asarone so has been recommended.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water, Candied and Confected root, Distilled Oil, Extract