The meaning of the symbols of calamus seen in a dream.

Uses: History records its use in the plague and for rabies. Much esteemed by the Dutch for stomach complaints. Loss of appetite, weight. Gastric ulcer. Root-chewing discourages smoking. Hyperacidity. Anorexia nervosa. Menominee Indians used the powder for stomach cramp. Reputation in China for rheumatoid arthritis.

Maria Treben records a case of cancer of the stomach cured by placing a level teaspoon of the crushed root into a cup of cold water. This was left to stand overnight, strained in the morning and drunk six sips a day. Must not be boiled. Dose, 1 sip before and after each meal. 1 teacupful consumed daily.

Fresh roots may be pulped in a juice extractor and taken in teaspoon doses. Appears in the British Pharmacopoeia, 1934.

Preparations according to BHP (1983). Thrice daily.

Liquid extract, 1:1 in 60 per cent alcohol. Dose: 1-3ml (15-45 drops).

Tincture, 1:5 in 60 per cent alcohol. Dose: 2-4ml. The oil is not used, being reputed to have ‘carcinogenic properties’. (American Federal Register 9 May 1968)

Powdered root: 1-3 grams. 

FAMILY: Araceae

SYNONYMS: Calamus aromaticus, sweet flag, sweet sedge, sweet root, sweet rush, sweet cane, sweet myrtle, myrtle grass, myrtle sedge, cinnamon sedge.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A reed-like aquatic plant about 1 metre high, with sword-shaped leaves and small greenish-yellow flowers. It grows on the margins of lakes and streams with the long-branched rhizome immersed in the mud. The whole plant is aromatic.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to India; the oil is mainly produced in India and Russia and to a lesser extent in Europe (except Spain), Siberia, China, Yugoslavia and Poland (Polish and Yugoslavian oils have a uniform lasting scent).

OTHER SPECIES: Not to be confused with the yellow flag iris which it resembles in appearance; they are botanically unrelated. There are several other varieties of aromatic sedge, mostly in the east, for example Calamus odoratus used in India as a medicine and perfume.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The name derives from the Greek calamos meaning ‘reed’. The properties of the herb are mainly due to the aromatic oil, contained largely in the root. It used to be highly esteemed as an aromatic stimulant and tonic for fever (typhoid), nervous complaints, vertigo, headaches, dysentery, etc. It is still current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, for ‘acute and chronic dyspepsia, gastritis, intestinal colic, anorexia, gastric ulcer.’. In Turkey and especially in India (where it is valued as a traditional medicine), it is sold as a candied rhizome for dyspepsia, bronchitis and coughs.

ACTIONS: Anticonvulsant, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypotensive, insecticide, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the rhizomes (and sometimes the leaves).

CHARACTERISTICS: A thick, pale yellow liquid with a strong, warm, woody-spicy fragrance; poor quality oils have a camphoraceous note. It blends well with cananga, cinnamon, labdanum, olibanum, patchouli, cedarwood, amyris, spice and oriental bases.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Beta-asarone (amounts vary depending on source: the Indian oil contains up to 80 per cent, the Russian oil a maximum of 6 per cent), also calamene, calamol, calamenene, eugenol and shyobunones.

SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin. The oil of calamus is reported to have carcinogenic properties.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should not be used in therapy, whether internally or externally.’.

OTHER USES: Extensively used in cosmetic and perfumery work, in woody/oriental/leather perfumes and to scent hair powders and tooth powders in the same way as orris. Calamus and its derivatives (oil, extracts, etc.) are banned from use in foods.