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Vacha English Name: Sweet flag Family: Acoraceae Indication It has a branched and aromatic root or rhizome from which rise its long erect leaves. Both the leaves and rhizome are apparently psychoactive, due to the presence of asarones, which have mescaline-like hallucinogenic properties if taken in sufficient quantities.In lesser amounts it has stimulating and tonic effects. According to Arabic, Roman and later European folk botany, the plant is also an aphrodisiac. |
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Acorus calamus, if taken orally through a funnel, relieves a cough. Celsus records that the plant was readily available in the markets of India almost 2,000 years ago. The rhizome (underground stem) is an emetic, stomachic, used in dysentery particularly in children, colic, remittent fever, as a nerve tonic useful in epilepsy, in bronchitis, to control glandular and abdominal tumours and in snake bites. The essential oil from the rhizome, called calamus oil, anticonvulsant, antiveratrinic and antiarrhythmic. An alcoholic extract, without the essential oil, is a sedative and analgesic. It moderately depresses the blood pressure and respiration. The rhizome is also insectcidal against houseflies, bed bugs, lice and moths. Calamus was also known to many early American settlers and used for a number of folk remedies. Walt Whitman even wrote poetry about his beloved herb in "Leaves of grass".
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