Vacaย (Sanskrit) literally means โspeaking.โ
The Acorus Calamus plant, also known as Vaca, stimulates yourย voice, the power of your speech, self-expression and your intelligence.ย
Although the roots and leaves have a peculiar sweet smell, the taste sure ainโt sweet. It is pungent and bitterย (katu and tiktaย rasa)ย and I sure am feeling the throat stimulation after eating a small piece of the root – the dry, heating, stimulating sensation in my throat was particularly strong from lunch till sleep and I can still feel it the next day, 24 hours later.
Thus, as the ancient Rishis (seers) and now I have discovered,ย Vacaย is good forย the throat, vocal cordsย andย respiratoryย issues like cough, cold, asthma and sinus conditions.
Nomenclature
English:ย Sweet Flagย orย Calamus
Sanskrit:ย Vacaย orย Ugragandha
Latin:ย Acorus Calamus
Energetics
Rasaย (taste):ย Katuย (pungent),ย Tiktaย (bitter)
Viryaย (energy):ย Usnaย (heating)
Vipakaย (post-digestive effect):ย Katuย (pungent)
Gunasย (quality):ย Rukshaย (dry),ย Laghuย (light),ย Tikshnaย (penetrating)
Dosha:ย VK- P+
Ayurvedic Action
Ganas (classical groups):
- Lekhaniyaย (Scrapes out accumulations)ย (Vaghbata)
- Triptighnaย (That which destroys the abnormal feeling of contentment or lack of desire in anything).ย (Vaghbata)
- Arsoghnaย (Cures Haemorrhoids)ย (Vaghbata)
- Sitasamanaย (Relieves the feeling of cold quickly)ย (Vaghbata)
- Samjnadaย (Restores Consciousness)ย (Vaghbata)
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INDICATIONS
Reduces Cravings and Addictions
Chewing the root pre-occupies your throat with this stimulating sensation thus cravings like cigarettes and food diminishes. Here in the village I harvested the roots from, they give a soft soaked root to babies during teething which boosts their immunity (rasayana).
Balance the Mindย (Manas)
Acorus Calamus / Vacaย is also one of the best herbs for the mind (manas) – its penetrating qualityย (tikshna guna)ย effectively purifies the mind and then rejuvenates the brain and nervous system, including the mindโs subtle channels by sharpening the memory, promoting cerebral circulation and increasing sensitivity. It helps cure epilepsy(1), insanity, coma, shock and vata diseases of the head.
Balance Vata
Acorus Calamus / Vaca is excellent for vata, and perhaps one of the best ways to use it is sniff it up your nose with a medicated oil to your brain – directly revitalise your brain withย Pranaย (life-force).
More Benefits:(1)
- Rasanayaย (Longevity and Immunity)ย –ย The root is made into bracelets for children to teeth on.
- Deepaanaย (Enhances digestive fire)
- Digestionย – relieves constipation, flatulence, pain in the abdomen
- Helps eliminationย – cleanses the faeces, and urine
- cures insanity caused by kapha andย bhutaย (evil)
- Cures worms.
Note that Calamus is banned by the FDA in USA due to toxicity.
Ayurveda says you should only haveย small amountsย of it and must purify it properly (the knowledge of purification of herbs is scare)
Overall, this is one of the most revered herbs in Ayurveda that has been used for thousands of years, and now grows around the world, particualry in wetlands.
References:
- (1)ย Bhavaprakasha, Haritakyadi varga.
- Ganas (Ayurvedic action) –ย ASTANGA SAMGRAHA (OF VAGBHATA),ย Author: Prof. K R Srikantha Murthy,ย CHAPTER 15: LARGER COLLECTION OF EFFICACIOUS RECIPES
