Swamp stork

Calamus is also known as calamus root, it is also called ir, yavr, igir, gaviar, tatarnik, Tatar potion and Tatar saber, angel grass, squeaker, flatbread, flatbread.

This perennial plant belongs to the Araceae family. It has a thick, creeping, horizontally located rhizome, from which a large number of adventitious roots diverge. Narrow, linear, sharp leaves, arranged in an alternate order, grow in a bunch from the place where the rhizome branches. In shape, they resemble a long sword and can reach a height of one to one and a half meters. The leaves are bright green, and the rhizome in its upper part has a greenish-brownish tint.

Sweet flag has an upright, unbranched stem crowned with inflorescences that extends from the top of the rhizome. The stem has a triangular cross-section and a ribbed surface on one side and a groove on the opposite side. From it, located diagonally, extend the inflorescences, which are 4-12-centimeter ears of an oblong oval shape.

The rhizome has a spongy structure and, like all other parts of the plant, it has a pungent smell and a burning bitter taste.

Where does calamus grow? In answer to this question, first of all, it should be noted that it is mainly found in places where the soil is largely saturated with moisture. This plant forms large clusters in the immediate vicinity of water, near reservoirs and in marshy areas. Often the plant grows mixed with a large number of horsetails and sedges.

According to popular belief, its distribution began with China and India. About four thousand years ago, it was already well known in the Middle East. Then, through ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, and later from Turkey, calamus appeared in medieval Europe. At the end of the 18th century, it was brought to the continent of North America.

Currently, the plant can be found in the steppe and forest-steppe zones in gullies, flooded fields and swampy areas of land. The territories included in the range where the calamus grows can be divided into the following zones.

Asian zone – including India and the countries of Southeast Asia;

Siberian - which covers the Ussuri region, southern Siberia and the Far Eastern region;

European – European countries, southern and central strip of the European part of Russia;

American - consisting of the territory of Brazil, the United States and the southern part of Canada.

Indications marsh aira

Healing properties

The healing properties of calamus have been known since time immemorial.

For example, in Ancient Rome it was used as a diuretic and tonic, this plant was always used to treat the respiratory tract and internal organs. As Avicenna claimed, calamus can be useful for treating eye diseases. In the Middle Ages, the plant was used to disinfect and wash out suppurating wounds and purulent ulcers. Chewing the root of the plant as a kind of preventive measure was used during the height of cholera and typhus epidemics in Europe, for flu and other infectious diseases.

The healing properties of calamus are also due to the fact that it is rich in mucus, which is a good enveloping agent. This gives reason to place calamus among the most effective means that provide effective treatment of ulcers of the duodenum, gastric ulcers, gastritis. Especially in case of exacerbations of peptic ulcer disease and the presence of hyperacid gastritis, that is, one in which there is a significant increase in the acid level.

The root of the plant eases the course of colds, sore throats, it is useful for coughs and runny noses. In case of sinusitis, it helps to clear the sinuses from accumulated mucus and purulent masses, eliminates nasal congestion.

Powder from the crushed root has a beneficial effect on heartburn.

The root of calamus is the main part of this plant, which is mainly used in the preparation of medicinal preparations from it.

The rhizome is thick, flattened-cylindrical in shape, consisting of sinuous creeping shoots, reaching up to half a meter in length, and which spread in a horizontal plane close to the soil surface. The root is covered with many scars, called leaf scars, and from it a large number of small rootlets extend, growing mainly vertically downwards.

The best time to collect calamus root is the autumn season - September and October. At the time when the water recedes from the banks and lowers its level in reservoirs, before frosts begin, the root can be easily extracted from the ground using a shovel, pitchfork or rake.

After collecting the required number of rhizomes, they should be cleaned of silt and mud, and then divided into thick pieces, cutting along the root. Having done all this, the calamus root is dried in a thin layer in a well-ventilated room, or ovens and dryers are used for this, in which the temperature is maintained from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. It is very important to maintain this level, because if it is exceeded, the essential oils contained in the root evaporate, and this reduces the value of the prepared raw material.

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Application

The use of calamus root involves its use for medicinal purposes in the form of various decoctions, infusions, tinctures for internal use, as well as for external use.

Internal use is indicated in particular for activating digestion processes. For this purpose, a decoction is prepared from 15 grams of roots and 2-3 glasses of water, which is brewed for 15 minutes in a closed container. It should be taken three times a day.

Chronic tonsillitis is treated by gargling as often as possible with the following remedy. Calamus roots in the amount of 2 tablespoons, poured with 1 glass of boiling water, covered with a lid, left for 20-30 minutes in a boiling water bath, after which the decoction is filtered.

Taking a small amount of fine powder from the plant roots three times a day will help relieve heartburn.

Calamus root is also present in herbal preparations aimed at treating inflammatory processes in the bladder.

One of the cases when external use of calamus root is indicated is when women have diseases of the genital organs. In this case, a sitz bath is prepared in the ratio of 30 g of the plant root decoction per 1 liter of water.

The plant's rhizome, crushed into powder, is used to sprinkle ulcers and wounds with suppuration.

The root of the plant, as well as the essential oil extracted from it, is widely used in the production of perfumes and cosmetics.

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Treatment

Treatment with calamus produces a beneficial effect in a variety of diseases. The plant is a well-known remedy in folk medicine and its range of application is very wide.

So, for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, it is recommended to rinse as often as possible with a root infusion prepared as follows. A glass of boiling water with two tablespoons of calamus root is covered with a lid and left in a boiling water bath for 20-30 minutes, after which it is filtered.

To activate the functions of gastric secretion and increase appetite, and also when it is necessary to relieve stomach spasms, two teaspoons of the plant root should be infused overnight in a thermos with one glass of boiling water. Take orally in a warm form, a quarter of a glass half an hour before meals.

In case of frequent colds and sore throats, chewing small pieces of the plant root for 10-15 minutes 5-6 times a day can help. For a more effective preventive action against sore throats, a course of such treatment should be carried out for six months.

Treatment of heartburn with calamus also shows good results. To achieve relief, take a quarter teaspoon of the plant root powder 3 times a day, washed down with water.

Calamus for hair

Due to its rich content of nutrients and minerals, calamus is an excellent hair strengthening agent. Hair rinsed with an infusion of the plant root is distinguished by an unrivaled natural shine, and is filled with great vitality.

From the plant, hair can receive the required amount of ascorbic acid, the need for which is especially relevant in autumn and spring.

A decoction of the root of this wonderful plant helps to significantly strengthen the hair of the head, and also has a beneficial effect when there is lichen. The plant is an effective remedy for hair loss and can best help in the fight against dandruff.

A positive result is provided by regular use of this infusion for rinsing hair after washing for two months. Improvements in the condition of the scalp and hair will begin to manifest themselves after a very short time. Moreover, it is not necessary to use it too often, once a week may be enough.

Calamus for hair will make it much softer and give it a healthy natural shine, not inferior to that which appears as a result of using the best conditioners and special balms.

Calamus during menopause

Menopause is a very difficult period in the life of every woman. Menopause, or, in other words, menopause, occurs at the age of 40-45 years and is accompanied by significant changes in hormonal levels. This, in turn, can have negative consequences for the state of the emotional sphere and nervous system. During menopause, a woman begins to show excessive nervousness, increased sensitivity, and becomes very vulnerable.

Calamus during menopause is an excellent remedy for counteracting the negative symptoms that women experience when they begin menopause.

A decoction of 1 tablespoon of crushed roots, poured with 1 liter of water, will come to the rescue. After leaving it for 7-8 hours, it is necessary to place it in a water bath for half an hour. Take twice a day, a glass half an hour before meals.

The action of calamus in this regard is manifested in an increase in the general tone of the central nervous system when it is completely or partially suppressed.

In addition, it helps to effectively relieve nervous tension.

Calamus during menopause is recommended in case of weakening libido, as well as

In the presence of pathologies, the development of which may be accompanied by the climacteric period.

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Release form

Tincture of calamus

The range of ways to use the plant root for medicinal purposes is quite wide. It exhibits its healing effect when steamed or boiled, and also in the form of juice.

Calamus tincture can be used externally, such as for baths, and also for internal use. Indications for its use are gastritis of the type characterized by low acidity, gastrointestinal colic, colitis, diarrhea, cholecystitis, hepatitis, gallbladder and biliary tract diseases. It is recommended for intestinal and gastric oncology, in cases of thyroid tumors - goiter.

Many manufacturers of pharmaceutical products offer calamus tincture in a ready-made form, as a balanced composition of plant roots selected in the necessary proportions with ethyl, food alcohol and purified water.

It is prescribed to take the tincture internally three times a day from 15 minutes to half an hour before meals, in a ratio of 20-30 drops to 50-100 ml of water.

To achieve a general strengthening effect on the body, it is enough to take two courses of treatment with this tincture per year, each lasting one month. In the presence of the above diseases in the chronic stage, such courses can be taken up to 6, it is only required that the minimum break between them be at least two weeks.

Contraindications

Contraindications to use certainly exist, despite the fact that, belonging to the category of medicinal plants, and being used for treatment purposes, it really does not bring anything but a positive effect in most cases. Here, attention should be paid to the rules and methods, to the very appropriateness of using the plant for certain diseases and individual characteristics of the body of each specific person. Deviation from certain recommendations and instructions in this regard can sometimes have a very detrimental effect on health and well-being.

Calamus should be removed from the list of medicinal products in cases of bleeding due to hemorrhagic diathesis caused by duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer.

In no case should the plant be used if you have hypotension. After all, this plant has the property of lowering blood pressure, which in this case is strictly contraindicated.

Use is not allowed in case of individual intolerance to essential oils of the plant. Exceptions also include pregnancy and predisposition to epilepsy.

Contraindications for use are also based on gastric ulcer in the acute phase, as well as acute inflammatory processes in the kidneys.

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