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Acorus calamus L.

Swamp calamus, common calamus, fragrant calamus, amygme root, tartar, Tatar potion... The homeland of this plant, widespread in Europe and Asia, is India and China. It is there that pollinating insects live, thanks to which the inconspicuous flowers of calamus, collected on the cob, turn into oblong berries of bright red color.

Fragrant roots for making incense, medicinal and cosmetic products were collected in Ancient Egypt in the 11th century BC. e. The medicinal properties of calamus were also known in Ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient Jews and Persians more often used calamus as a spicy plant, replacing not only bay leaves, ginger, but even cinnamon and nutmeg.

On the territory of Russia, calamus was spread by the Tatar-Mongols, who believed that this plant, typical of stagnant and weakly flowing reservoirs, made the water suitable for drinking. Therefore, they threw calamus rhizomes into rivers and lakes at their campsites. Over time, calamus leaves were used to decorate the house on Trinity Day, spread them on the floors, in courtyards and even in rural churches.

Calamus was brought to Western Europe from Constantinople as an expensive delicacy. In the Middle Ages, calamus root powder was taken as a prophylactic during epidemics of infectious diseases. It was used to treat typhus, dysentery, relieve headaches and dizziness. Bulgarians gave calamus for stomach colic, hysteria, in India and Turkey - for dyspepsia, bronchitis, as well as to improve memory, vision and hearing.

Calamus roots contain a large amount of essential oil. Its peculiar, woody-spicy aroma began to be actively used in the second half of the 19th century in perfume production. There are several types of calamus oil based on their chemical composition. Essential oil with a camphor note is used for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal properties

1. A good expectorant. Used for pulmonary tuberculosis and influenza.
2. Stimulates appetite, improves digestion, enhances the secretion of gastric juice and normalizes its acidity. Recommended for exacerbation of gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis, heartburn, diarrhea, as an anthelmintic.
3. Indicated for diseases of the kidneys, bladder, biliary tract, kidney, urinary, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, hepatitis. Increases bile secretion.
4. Reduces blood pressure, improves blood circulation. Effective for anemia, arrhythmia.
5. Normalizes metabolism.
6. Tones the immune system. Indicated for general weakness.
7. Relieves inflammation of the lymph glands.
8. Relieves pain in gout and rheumatism.
9. Prescribed for inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, irregular menstruation, colpitis.
10. Eliminates bad breath, analgesizes toothache, strengthens gums during periodontal disease and other types of gum loosening. Recommended for gingivitis.
11. Used for photodermatoses, pustular diseases, frostbite, sunburn, fungal skin lesions, ulcers, lichen, abscesses, purulent wounds.
12. In folk medicine it is known as an antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic. Used for diseases of the liver and bladder, fever, rheumatism, jaundice, malaria, scrofula, exudative diathesis, rickets, scurvy, allergies, female diseases, nervous diseases accompanied by convulsions, chronic diseases of the spinal cord with loss of sensitivity.
13. Tones the nervous system when it is depressed, moderately excites, relieves nervous tension. Effective for epilepsy, hysteria, anorexia nervosa. It has an aphrodisiac effect and causes aversion to smoking.
14. Recommended for dry seborrhea, accompanied by itching, increased hair loss and poor growth, alopecia areata, and dandruff. Suitable for caring for oily, split ends, oily, chapped, dull skin of the face and neck.
15. Repels fleas and other parasitic insects.

Dosage

Prescribed individually by an aromatherapist.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 1-3 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance.

Note. Strong oil. Exceeding the dose has a toxic effect.