Culpeper: ‘I shall not, nor dare not make a long paraphrase about the sorts of it, one of which is Water-Flag or flower-de-Luce, which ... binds, strengthens, stops fluxes of the belly, and immoderate flowing of the terms in women, a drachm being taken in red wine every morning.’

Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.

One study in 1995 showed Acorus calamus was effective in reducing depression and improving rehabilitation.

Gupta, A.K. (2004). Indian Medicinal Plants. Volume 1 (Abe-Alle. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. P.212

Dried rhizome used in ayurvedic medicine for epilepsy, schizophrenia, constipation, colic, cough, asthma, memory loss in powder, balm, enema, pill or ghee form.

Gupta, A.K. (2004). Indian Medicinal Plants. Volume 1 (Abe-Alle. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. p. 195

In South African herbal medicine it is used to treat diarrhoea. The powdered root used to be used to clean teeth. - but see Toxicity.

Van Wyk, B.E., Van Oudtshoorn, B Gericke, N. (2000). Medicinal Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications. 2nd ed

Oil of calamus contains beta-asarone which is carcinogenic, nephrotoxic and causes convulsions (MCA, 2002). It should not be taken internally and its use has been banned in most countries.

Medicines and Health Care Regulatory Agency , MCA. (2002). Medicines and Health Care Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for restricted or prohibited herbal medicines. Medicines and Health Care Regulatory Agency . Link

Contains beta-asarone which is carcinogenic, and possibly genotoxic. Leiomyosarcomas formed in the small intestines of rats fed beta-asarone for 2 years. Hepatomas formed in pre-weaning mice. Genotoxicity studies were equivocal but the recommendations are that it should be regarded as genotoxic (EU-SCF).

van den Berg, S.J.P.L., Restani, et al., P.. (2011). Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Compounds in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment. Food and Nutrition Science 2: 989-1010. Link

The tetraploid form of Acorus calamus should be placed in category 6, i.e. the plant is considered as unfit for human consumption in any amounts.

European Commission SCF/CS/FLAV/FLAVOUR/9 ADD1 Final

A source of calamus oil used in perfume.

Gupta, A.K. (2004). Indian Medicinal Plants. Volume 1 (Abe-Alle. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. p.195

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Afghanistan

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey

Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus

Asia-Temperate, Siberia

Asia-Temperate, Mongolia

Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East

Asia-Temperate, China

Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Japan

Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Korea

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, India

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Nepal

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, East Himalaya

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Thailand

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Vietnam

Asia-Tropical, Malesia