Botanical name of calamus: Acorus Calamus L.
Plant family: Araceae
Main botanical characteristics: Perennial, growing in swampy soil, with rootstocks up to 3 cm thick, from which sword-shaped leaves up to 1 m long sprout. Flower spikes with small, inconspicuous greenish flowers.
Flowering time: June-July
Plant parts used: Root (Rhizoma Calami)
Ingredients: Bitter substances, essential oils, tannins, mucilage
Effect : Promotes secretion, soothes irritation (mucus), stimulates appetite, spasmolytic, astringent
indications: Especially vegetative stomach, intestinal, and gallbladder complaints (especially in nervous, gaunt types), loss of appetite, feeling of fullness, stomach pressure, gastritis, colic, cystitis, anorexia, hypotension, chronic exhaustion, and weakness.
Contraindication / Side effects: Not during pregnancy
Preparation and dosage form:
- Decoction (2-3 times/day before meals)
- Tincture (2-3 times a day, 10-20 drops, before meals)
- Externally: Morning bath (100g root decoction / full bath) stimulating.
Effect of calamus according to Chinese medicine – TCM (cold):
- Harmonizes the ME, the stomach Qi is stimulated by the gallbladder.
- Drives away wind, cold, dampness
- Transforms mucus moisture
- Calms the mind
- Dissolves toxic stagnation
- Clears toxic heat
