Vaj (Acorus calamus)

Vaj (Acorus calamus), also known as Sweet Flag, is a semi-aquatic, perennial herb commonly found in wetlands and marshy areas across India and many parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. It is well-regarded in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Unani for its wide range of health benefits. Vaj is prized for its strong, fragrant rhizomes and has long been used to cure respiratory and skin conditions, improve digestion, manage epilepsy, and improve memory.

Acorus calamus Scientific Name

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Acorales
Family: Acoraceae
Genus: Acorus
Species: Acorus calamus

Acorus calamus Common Name

English: Sweet Flag, Calamus
Sanskrit: Vacha, Ugragandha
Hindi: Vaj, Ghorvach
Gujarati: Vaj
Tamil: Vasambu
Telugu: Vasa
Malayalam: Vayambu
Bengali: Boch

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Cognitive and Nervous System Health - Acts as a Medhya Rasayana (brain tonic) that enhances memory, learning, and speech.

Digestive and Gastrointestinal Support - Serves as a carminative, digestive stimulant, and anthelmintic.

Respiratory Care - Beneficial in asthma, bronchitis, cough, and sinusitis by acting as an expectorant and decongestant.

Skin and Hair Uses - External application helps in treating eczema, skin infections, and wounds.

Reproductive Health - Used as an aphrodisiac and emmenagogue in traditional medicine.

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Govt. of India, Part I, Vol I, 2001.

Sharma, P.V. (2006). Dravyaguna Vigyan, Vol. 2, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy.

Khare, C.P. (2007). Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary, Springer.

European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2017). Assessment report on Acorus calamus L.

Council of Europe. (2010). European Pharmacopoeia, 7th Edition.

Maity, T.K., et al. (2000). "Studies on the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Acorus calamus rhizome extract." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 72(1-2), 151–156.

Singh, R. & Sharma, P. (2003). "Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Acorus calamus Linn." Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(11), 1501–1506.

Bisset, N.G. (1994). Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, CRC Press.

Vaj (Acorus calamus)

Acorus calamus Scientific Name

Acorus calamus Common Name

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

References

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