What are the effects and functions of Acorus calamus?

Nowadays, various health risks are often seen. When you get sick, you naturally need timely and correct treatment. The most common treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine is Chinese medicine. In fact, Chinese medicine is closely related to our lives. Many Chinese medicine ingredients are relatively common and have many functions. Everyone needs to use the medicine correctly according to their own conditions. So what are the functions and effects of Acorus calamus?

Effects on the central nervous system

Acorus calamus has a sedative effect. Both decoction and volatile oil can reduce the spontaneous activity of mice and eliminate the aggressive behavior of mice kept in single cages; they can also prolong the sleep time caused by sodium pentobarbital and have a synergistic effect on subthreshold hypnotic doses of sodium pentobarbital. In addition, it can significantly prolong the anesthesia time of sodium pentobarbital. Studies have shown that asarone in the volatile oil is an effective sedative ingredient, but it still has a sedative effect after removing the volatile oil, suggesting that there is more than one sedative ingredient.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

The volatile oil of Acorus tatarinowii (β-asarone) has the effect of dilating the coronary vessels of guinea pigs at a certain concentration. It is commonly used clinically to treat chest pain caused by phlegm and qi stagnation in patients with coronary heart disease, cor pulmonale, etc. Its mechanism may be related to its ability to increase coronary blood flow, and may also be related to its sedative, improved digestive function, antiasthmatic, and antitussive effects.

Effects on the digestive system

Taking Acorus calamus decoction internally can promote the secretion of digestive juice, stop abnormal gastrointestinal fermentation, and relieve intestinal smooth muscle spasm. Asarone contained in Acorus calamus can counteract the excitatory effect of isolated intestine caused by barium chloride.

Antifungal effect

Acorus calamus water extract (1:3) has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on skin fungi such as Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton concentricum, Trichophyton thunbergii, Microspore Trichophyton audouinensis, Microspore Trichophyton ferruginosa, Microspore Trichophyton woolly, Epidermophyton inguinale, Epidermophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton kaufmann-wolfii, and Nocardia asteroides in vitro.

Other effects

The α-asarone contained in Acorus calamus has an antiasthmatic effect, can counteract the bronchoconstriction caused by histamine, and has an antitussive effect. Clinically, it improves the lung ventilation function of patients with bronchial asthma.

The above article gives a clear introduction to the effects and functions of Acorus calamus. Acorus calamus, a Chinese medicinal ingredient, can be found in many Chinese medicines, especially in the treatment of some central nervous system diseases, the effect is quite good. However, you must abide by the principles of medication. You must not only prescribe the right medicine for the disease, but also be mentally prepared for long-term medication.