Calamus
Scientific Name(s): Acorus calamus L.
Common Name(s): Calamus, Calamus oil, Rat root, Shi chang pu, Sweet flag, Sweet myrtle, Sweet root, Sweet sedge, Vash vaj
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 21, 2021.
Clinical Overview
Use
Clinical studies are lacking due to concerns of toxicity. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular effects have been described, as well as activities in epilepsy, diabetes, and cancer. However, because of toxicity and lack of clinical trials, no recommendations for use can be made. Use of calamus and its extracts is prohibited in the US.
Dosing
Use of calamus and its extracts is prohibited in the US. Clinical studies that provide information on therapeutic dosages are lacking.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Adverse effects (emmenagogue and genotoxic activity) have been documented.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Clinical studies are lacking due to concerns of toxicity.
Toxicology
Case reports of toxicity describe nausea and prolonged vomiting (up to 15 hours) and tachycardia. Mutagenicity attributed to various extracts and chemical constituents has been reported.
Scientific Family
- Araceae (Calamus)
Botany
Calamus is a semi-evergreen, perennial, hairless herb found in damp, swampy areas. It has bright-green sword-shaped leaves with a waxy margin that thicken in the middle. The plant is similar in appearance to the iris and grows to approximately 2 meters tall, with hermaphroditic flowers that are pollinated by insects. The creeping rhizome is pale yellow to pinkish brown on the outside and white to pinkish on the inside. It is native to much of Asia and is also found throughout North America and eastern Europe.1, 2, 3 Synonyms include A. calamus L. var. americanus (Raf.) H.D. Wulff. and Acorus americanus (Raf.) Raf.
History
The fragrant underground portion (the rhizome) has been used medicinally since biblical times. Popular European books on medicinal plants touted calamus as a "wonder drug." However, because of an association between asarones and the development of tumors in animals, the use of calamus and its extracts is prohibited in the US. Maximum limits for beta-asarone content in food and beverages have been set by the European Commission.2, 3, 4, 5 It has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders and childhood colic. Infusions of the rhizome have been suggested for the treatment of fever, and chewing the rhizome has been said to relieve irritated throats and to remove the odor of tobacco. It is central to the Ayurvedic medical system as an aromatic, stimulant, bitter tonic, and expectorant and has been used as an emmenagogue. The A. calamus used in Ayurvedic medicine has undergone "sodhana," a process of detoxification. It has been used by Native Americans to soothe toothache and headache. Calamus has been promoted on the Internet as a hallucinogen.
The ground rhizome is used as a spice and commercial flavoring in drinks, cosmetics, and toothpastes.
Chemistry
Calamus leaves and rhizomes contain 1.5% to 3.5% of a volatile oil responsible for the plant's characteristic odor and taste. From some types of calamus, a major component of the oil (up to 75%) is beta-asarone. Alpha-asarone has also been identified and exists in both the cis- and trans-isomer forms.
