Chinese herbal medicine Acorus calamus

Many people have heard of calamus, but know very little about it. They only know that it is a Chinese herbal medicine, but do not know what its functions and effects are, nor do they know what it looks like. Today, the editor will give you a detailed introduction to the functions and effects of the Chinese herbal medicine calamus.

1. The role and efficacy of calamus

The leaves of calamus are emerald green, solemn and beautiful, with fragrance, suitable for garden waterscape and water quality landscaping. It can also be used as a potted plant for appreciation or as a landscape. Leaves and inflorescences can also be used as materials for artistic flower arrangement. The whole plant is fragrant and can be used as a spice or to repel mosquitoes; the stems and leaves are used as medicine.

Acorus is a common aquatic flower in green gardens. Its rich and colorful varieties and high ornamental value make it fully utilized in green gardens. A perennial plant with sword-shaped leaves, dark green. It has strong adaptability and is extremely cold-resistant. Application in garden landscape: The leaves of the tail plant are bright emerald green, the flowers are bright, there are few diseases, and the planting and management methods are simple. In garden landscapes, they are planted in clusters on the banks of lakes and ponds, or decorated in corners of garden waterscapes and waterside courtyard rockery, and have excellent ornamental value.

Acorus calamus is slightly warm in nature and pungent in taste. It has the effects of opening the orifices, warming the lungs, promoting qi, activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, dispersing cold and removing dampness. It is commonly used to treat epilepsy, phlegm syncope, coma due to heat syndrome, memory loss, qi stagnation and deafness, chest upset, stomachache, abdominal pain, rheumatism, carbuncle, swelling and poison, and bruises. Some products on the market are sold as Acorus calamus, which are impersonated by the dried rhizomes of the Saxifragaceae plant Rockia. Be careful to distinguish them when using them.

2. The two types of calamus should be distinguished

There are two types of calamus with medicinal value: Acorus calamus and Acorus calamus. Acorus calamus is famous because it belongs to the cattail family, has lush green leaves, and grows next to stones. The nine-jointed calamus belongs to another type of woody plant. Ancient reference documents said that "the one with nine joints per inch is the best."

Acorus calamus: Also known as water sword grass, water centipede, and mountain calamus. It is the underground rhizome of the green plant Acorus calamus of the Araceae family. Its Poria cocos has pungent, bitter and slightly warm effects. It can remove dampness, relieve cough and reduce phlegm, has a fragrant aroma, opens the orifices, soothes the stomach, calms the mind and helps with sleep. It is mainly used to treat dampness and phlegm that confuses the mind, coma and delirium, depression and memory loss, qi stagnation and deafness, chest discomfort, mental confusion and restlessness, stomach, wrist and abdominal pain, and mute dysentery. Those with Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity should not take it. Pharmacology has confirmed that Acorus calamus has the effects of sedation and anticonvulsant, promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes, inhibiting abnormal gastrointestinal fermentation, relaxing intestinal smooth muscle spasm, dilating bronchitis, relieving cough and asthma, reducing phlegm, strengthening the body and improving intelligence, and enhancing brain metabolism. It has an inhibitory effect on highly pathogenic skin fungi.

Nine-section calamus: also known as small calamus, Beijing calamus, and section calamus, it is the underground stem of the Altai anemone plant of the Ranunculaceae family. Its Poria cocos has pungent and slightly warm properties. It can warm the lungs, relieve cough, resolve phlegm and dampness, open up the orifices and invigorate the mind, neutralize the spleen and stimulate appetite. It is mainly used to treat fever symptoms such as coma, delirium, epilepsy, syncope with phlegm, frequent dreams, memory loss, abdominal distension, vomiting, nausea and vomiting, etc.

Comparison of medicinal effects: Both medicines have the effects of opening the orifices and refreshing the mind, neutralizing the body and stimulating appetite; while Acorus calamus tends to relieve cough, resolve phlegm, calm the mind and help sleep, while Acorus calamus focuses on warming the body, relieving cough and resolving phlegm and dampness, and can be used as a substitute.