Calamus

Scientific Name(S): Acarus calamus L. At least four subtypes have been identified and are differentiated by their content of the compound isoasarone. Family: Araceae

Common Name(S): Calamus, rat root, sweet flag, sweet myrtle, sweet root, sweet sedge.

Botany: Calamus is a perennial that is found in damp, swampy areas. It has sword-shaped leaves and grows to 6 feet tall. It is similar in appearance to the iris. It is found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, and is often imported from India and the former Yugoslavia and USSR.

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." It was commonly used in folk medicine as a "nervine," most likely linked to the tranquilizing effect of cis-isoasarone (the major component of the oil). 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.

The ground rhizome is used as a spice and commercial flavoring in drinks, cosmetics, and toothpastes. However, because of an association with isoasarone and the development of tumors in animals, the use of calamus and its extracts is prohibited in the US.

Uses of Calamus

It is Nauseant, Stomachic, Anthelmentic, Stimulants, Emetic, Expectorant, Carminative, Antispasmodic and Nervine Sedative. Rhizome is used in the cure of host of diseases such as epilepsy, mental; ailments, chronic diarrhea and dysentary. It is used in incense sticks and dhup and is widely used as insecticide for lice, bedbugs, worms etc.

Side Effects of Calamus

Because of mutagenic properties, calamus derivatives are not used in foods in the US.

Dosage information: Not intended for human consumption. Calamus has been banned by the FDA as a food additive and within the last few years many herbal shops have stopped recommending or dispensing it.

Toxicology: The primary toxicologic concern focuses on the carcinogenic effect of isoasarone, a major component of the volatile oil of calamus. Feeding studies conducted more than 20 years ago provided evidence for the mutagenic potential of this compound. Subsequently, all calamus-containing products were removed from the US marketplace. However, a recent study found extracts of A. calamus to exhibit no mutagenic activity in the salmonella mutagenicity screen. The plant and its extracts continue to find use througbout the world.

The LD50 of asarone in mice is 417 mg/kg (oral) and 310 mg/kg (IP). Although A. calamus exhibited no mutagenic activity in the salmonella mutagenicity screen, recent experiences showed that calamus oil exhibited genotoxic effects on Swiss mice. Another experiment showed that calamus oil was strongly mutagenic.

Summary: Calamus is a fragrant plant that grows throughout many parts of the world and has been used in traditional medicine since biblical times. Although used in many countries as a flavoring, the oil contains asarone, a compound which has been considered to be mutagenic. Hence, calamus and its derivatives are not used in foods in the US. The oil has a strong sedative and antispasmodic action that appears to resemble the activity of the phenothiazine tranquilizers.