Calamus oil has a warm spicy odor reminiscent of sweet forest. This herb has traditionally been smoked eaten or brewed into a tea decoction extract tincture and syrup. According to Ayurvedic tradition Vacha is a 'sattvic' herb which feeds and transmutes the sexual 'kundalini' energy. Calamus has been called called 'the closest thing to a sex stimulant that nature has to offer.' It is a stimulating nervine antispasmodic and a general tonic to the mind. As a rejuvenative for the brain and nervous system it is used to promote cerebral circulation to stimulate self-expression and to help manage a wide range of symptoms in the head including neuralgia epilepsy memory loss and shock. In many cases involving the sinuses or shock the powdered root is taken nasally. The Cree say that they can take Calamus root and 'travel great distances without touching the ground'. Active constituents: Monoterpene hydrocarbons sequestrine ketones (trans- or Alpha) Asarone (2 4 5-trimethoxy-1-propenylbenzene) and Beta-asarone (cis- isomer) contained in the roots essential oils. It is used in the Phillipines for rheumatism and memory problems. In Korea it is an ingredient in a type of moonshine called Immortals' Booze. Research in China has shown the essential oil in this rhizome to be sedating and neuroprotectant. Sweet flag more accurately Acorus gramineus Japanese Sweet Flag has been used in Asia for at least the last 2000 years for a number of beneficial reasons. The ancient Chinese used it to lessen swelling and for constipation. The Indian and European variety is Acorus calamus. In India Ayurvedic medicinal practice has used the magical root to cure fevers for asthma and bronchitis and as an all around sedative. Acorus calamus root was also used by the ancient Greeks and included in the traditional remedies of many other European cultures. During the middle ages calamus was an admixture in several of the ancient psychoactive 'witches flying ointments' often being mixed with solanacious herbs. The root was also well-known in Biblical times and mentioned in Exodus 30: 22-25 as one of the ingredients of the 'holy anointing oil'. The Cree Indians of Northern Alberta use calamus for a number of medicinal reasons including: as an analgesic for the relief of toothache or headache for oral hygiene to cleanse and disinfect the teeth the fight the effects of exhaustion or fatigue and to help cure/prevent a hangover. Other Native tribes used it to treat a cough made a decoction as a carminative and as an infusion for cholic. The Sioux used the whole plant making aromatic garlands from the leaves and using the root as a tea for bowel pains or rubbed the chewed root on the skin for a general illness cure. Calamus was also known to many early American settlers and used for a number of folk remedies. Walt Whitman even wrote poetry about his beloved herb in 'Leaves of Grass'. Calamus was also widely used by Canadian trappers working for the Hudson Bay Company using it as a stimulant chewing a small piece whenever tired. The unpeeled dried rhizome was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia until 1916 and in the National Formulary until 1950 for medicinal use on humans. Today the FDA defines calamus as 'not intended for human consumption.' This is due to the fact that massive doses of isolated beta-Asarone given to lab rats over extended time periods have proven to be carcinogenic. This is low asarone essential oil nonetheless it should never be ingested and is not for children or the pregnant. Essential and resin oils are volatile fragrant materials extracted from the root bark wood seed fruit leaf or flower of a single plant. Essential oils contain the odor taste and medicinal properties of the plant itself but in very concentrated form with no base oil alcohol water or dilutants added. Steam distillation and cold pressing are used to extract the essential oil from the plant. Starwest Essential Oils are guaranteed to be 100% pure and undiluted. The distillation process occurs either at the site where the plants are grown or at a distillery. Each oil is tested for purity and strength using the gas chromatography method. Packaged in glass amber bottles to preserve the oils the 1/3 ounce size has a fitted dropper insert and a tamper-evident child-proof lid. The larger items are in amber glass or PET gallon containers depending on the product. Starwest’s pure essential oils are suitable for use in aromatherapy cosmetic preparation healing and body care potpourris and more. Essential oils are very potent and should always be used sparingly and in conjunction with a reliable reference.
We also offer several other Acorus Calamus products
Calamus Capsules
Live Calamus Roots
Dried Calamus Roots
Calamus Seeds
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 25 July, 2007.
