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 Calamus Essential
Oil ProfileCalamus is a reed-like aquatic plant growing to about 1m high, with sword-shaped leaves and small greenish-yellow flowers. it grows on the margins of lakes and streams with a long-branched rhizome immersed in the mud. Its erect, sword-shaped leaves bear considerable resemblance to those of the Yellow Flag, hence its equally common popular name of 'Sweet Flag,' though it is not related botanically to the Iris. All parts of the plant have a peculiar, agreeable fragrance. Calamus was largely grown for its rhizomes in the East and the Indian rhizomes were imported extensively long after it was common in Europe. The Indian rhizome is said to have a stronger and more agreeable flavour than that obtained in Europe or the United States. ....more |
| Botanical Name: | Acorus calamus L. |
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| Family: | Acoraceae |
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| Synonyms: | Calamus aromaticus, sweet sedge, sweet root, sweet rush, sweet cane, sweet myrtle, myrtle grass, flagroot, myrtle flag, sweet calamus, sweet flag, cinnamon sedge. |
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| See Also: | |
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| Parts Used: | Root |
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| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation. |
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| Colour: | Yellow brownish |
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| Consistency: | Medium to thick |
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| Aroma Description: | Fresh sweet citrus herbal |
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| Historical Uses: | Calamus has a very long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions. It has been widely employed in herbal medicine as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic. In Ayurveda it is highly valued as a rejuvenator for the brain and nervous system and as a remedy for digestive disorders, vertigo and headaches. |
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| Modern Uses: | It is highly esteemed as an aromatic stimulant and tonic, often used for nervous complaints, vertigo, headaches, and dysentery. A fluid extract is an official preparation in the United States and some other Pharmacopceias, but it is not now official in the British Pharmacopceia, though it is much used in herbal medicine as an aromatic bitter. It also acts as a carminative, removing the discomfort caused by flatulence and checking the growth of the bacteria which give rise to this problem. Anticonvulsant, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypotensive, insecticide, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge. |
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| Cautions: | Use with caution. Will irritate the skin. May be carcinogenic |
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| Aromatherapy Uses: |
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Not used in aromatherapy
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| Physical Actions |
| Anticonvulsive, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypotensive, insecticide, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge. |
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| Toxicity |
LD50 - (oral) rat >0.84g/kg. (dermal) rabbit >not known.
Irritation/Sensitisation - Not available
Phototoxicity - Not available
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