What are the effects and functions of Acorus calamus?

Have you ever paid attention to and understood the effects and functions of Acorus calamus? In fact, it has many applications. It can be used to treat problems such as forgetfulness, insomnia, tinnitus, deafness, or long-term mental instability. It can also improve rheumatic pain.

1. Phlegm blocks the clear orifices and causes coma. This product is pungent, bitter, dry, warm and has a penetrating aroma. It not only has the effect of opening the orifices and refreshing the mind, but also has the effects of removing dampness, resolving phlegm and eliminating filth.

2. It can cure the confusion of mind caused by the obstruction of the clear orifices by the evil of phlegm, dampness and filth. For the treatment of stroke with phlegm obscuring the mind, confusion, and stiff tongue that makes it impossible to speak, it is often used in combination with drying dampness and resolving phlegm drugs such as Pinellia, Arisaema, and Tangerine Peel, such as Di Tan Decoction (Ji Sheng Fang); for the treatment of phlegm-heat obstructing the mind, high fever, coma and delirium, it is often used in combination with Curcuma, Pinellia, and Bamboo Sap, such as Acorus and Curcuma Decoction (Wen Bing Quan Shu); for the treatment of phlegm-heat epilepsy and convulsions, it can be used with Citrus aurantium, Bamboo Shavings, and Coptis chinensis, such as Qing Xin Wen Dan Decoction (Gu Jin Yi Jian); for the treatment of epilepsy and internal phlegm and heat, it can be used with Polygala, Cinnabar, and Raw Iron, such as Raw Iron Drink (Yi Xue Xin Wu); for the treatment of dampness obstructing the mind, dizziness, drowsiness, forgetfulness, tinnitus, deafness, etc., it is often used with Poria, Polygala, Dragon Bone, etc., such as An Shen Ding Zhi Pills (Yi Xue Xin Wu).

3. Dampness blocks the middle burner, causing fullness, distension and pain in the abdomen. This product is pungent, warm and aromatic, and is good at removing dampness and turbidity, invigorating the spleen and stomach, promoting the flow of qi stagnation, and relieving bloating. It is used to treat dampness and turbidity blocking the middle part of the body, abdominal distension, and pain. It is often used together with Amomum villosum, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Magnolia officinalis. If the dampness turns into heat, there is accumulation of dampness and heat, body heat, vomiting and diarrhea, chest and abdominal distension, and yellow greasy tongue coating, it can be used in combination with Coptis chinensis, Magnolia officinalis, etc., such as Lianpu Drink (from "Cholera Treatise").

4. Lockjaw dysentery. This product has aromatic properties that can eliminate dampness, dry up dampness, and regulate gastrointestinal qi. It can be used in combination with Coptis chinensis, Poria cocos, and Echinochloa chinensis, such as Kaiyin Powder (Medical Insights), to treat food indigestion and heaviness after dysentery caused by dampness, heat and toxicity in the colon.

5. Forgetfulness, insomnia, tinnitus, and deafness. This product enters the heart meridian, opens the heart, benefits the mind, calms the mind, improves hearing and eyesight, so it can be used for the above-mentioned symptoms. For the treatment of amnesia, it is often used in combination with ginseng, Poria, Acorus calamus, etc., such as Buwang Powder (Zhengzhi Zhunsheng) and Kaixin Powder (Qianjin Fang); for the treatment of insomnia, dreaminess, palpitations and restlessness caused by overwork and mental malnutrition, it is often used in combination with ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, longan pulp, Ziziphus jujuba seed, Poria, cinnabar, etc., such as Anshen Dingzhi Pills (Xizhuo of the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases); for the treatment of deficiency of both heart and kidney, tinnitus, deafness, dizziness and palpitations, it is often used in combination with Cuscuta chinensis, Ligustrum lucidum, Eclipta prostrata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Polygonum multiflorum, etc., such as Anshen Buxin Pills (Handbook of Chinese Medicine Preparations). In addition, the effects and functions of calamus can also be used for hoarseness, carbuncle, rheumatism, pain, and injuries from falls.