Calamus Root

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

I was once told by a european student of Ayurveda that there is a

special class of calamus root which comes from a certain valley area

in India, which is regarded as the best. I am looking for the best

calamus, and preferably it should be a fresh root and not dried etc.

Any help/input from the members here would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanking you,

 

~ Ole Alstrup

[Guest guest]

Hi Ole

 

The hexaploid (6n) Acorus calamus found in Kashmir valley, as well as

the triploid (3n) European genetic species has the lowest levels of

the potentially hepatotoxic beta-asarone (~5-10%). However, the

North American diploid (2n) species has no beta-asarone at all, and

is a better choice where this is a concern, such as pre-existing

liver conditions. Other genetic species in India contain as much as

75% beta-asarone in the essential oil, and are probably best avoided.

 

best...

Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com

_________________________

I was once told by a european student of Ayurveda that there is a

special class of calamus root which comes from a certain valley area

in India, which is regarded as the best.

[Guest guest]

Hi

 

Thanks very much for this info. Does the hexaploid variety contain active

components which are not found in the other species or more of certain active

components? Are there any references mentioned in the classical texts about the

species found in the Kashmir valley as the best? About beta-asarone, does this

substance have any positive effects?

 

Thanks, Ole

 

___________

 

The hexaploid (6n) Acorus calamus found in Kashmir valley, as well as

the triploid (3n) European genetic species has the lowest levels of

the potentially hepatotoxic beta-asarone (~5-10%).

[Guest guest]

Hi

 

Thanks very much for this info. In the strict ayurvedic definition

of Vacha, which variety is said to have the most spiritual power, do

you know? The Kashmir hexaploid variety, is it only found in this

area? Does it contain active components which are not found in the

other species or more of certain active components? Are there any

references mentioned in the classical texts about the species found

in the Kashmir valley as the best? Finally, about beta-asarone, does

this substance have any positive effects as well?

 

Thanks, Ole

_______________

The hexaploid (6n) Acorus calamus found in Kashmir valley, as well

as

the triploid (3n) European genetic species has the lowest levels

of

the potentially hepatotoxic beta-asarone (~5-10%).

[Guest guest]

Hi Ole,

 

The determination of the different genetic species isn't something

Ayurvedic physicians could have distinguished. Rather, assessment is

based on organoleptic qualities, using taste, odor, morphology etc.

Good quality Calamus will have its characteristic sweet odor, and

will have an aromatic, pungent and bitter taste. If you took all the

Calamus from all the regions of India, you could probably grade the

samples according to organoleptic criteria. It is likely that the

hexaploid species is found outside the Kashmir Valley in India, but

this is where it has been reported to grow. Probably there is a

natural variation in other plant constituents, apart from the already

reported variations in the essential oil, but these have not been

studied to my knowledge.

 

Beta asarone is hepatotoxic, and like thujone, has psychotropic

properties as it is the precursor to 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine,

which is chemically related to mescaline. However, the purported

psychotropic properties would require a very high dose of the herb,

which would not only be a potentially toxic dose, but also impossible

to consume, given the inherent emetic properties of Calamus.

Interestingly, the First Nations peoples of North America used

Calamus as a sacred herb for spiritual journeying, so it appears that

the plant has additional psychotropic effects that are unrelated to

its beta asarone content. Today, some people use Calamus to help

with addictions to tobacco or cannabis, but it shouldn't not be

smoked because the herb is be too irritating (tikshna) to be inhaled

into the delicate structures of the lung.

 

Given that Calamus is found in temperate regions almost all over the

world, and was used locally by traditional peoples in many of the

same ways, I cannot think that the beta asarone contributes anything

unique to the plant. As a general rule, I would recommend everyone

to use the Calamus with the lowest percent beta-asarone, or the

(wild) NA species, Acorus americanus, as it doesn't contain any.

Interestingly, it is only the wild diploid species that can spread

both vegetatively and by seed. All tetraploid/hexaploid Asian

species can only reproduce vegetatively. This biological fact may

say something about the overall qualities of the plant, in the sense

that it has lost its original potency. Many herbalists will prefer

wild species over cultivated species because they retain their

original virya, or potency. Who knows, perhaps there is a market

selling American calamus to Ayurvedic physicians in India ;-)

Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com

__________________

 

In the strict ayurvedic definition

of Vacha, which variety is said to have the most spiritual power, do

you know? The Kashmir hexaploid variety, is it only found in this

area? Does it contain active components which are not found in the

other species or more of certain active components? Are there any

references mentioned in the classical texts about the species found

in the Kashmir valley as the best? Finally, about beta-asarone, does

this substance have any positive effects as well?

[Guest guest]

You may ask Ayurvedacharya Balkrishanji of Divya Yoga trust. He is an authority.

His book on " Jadi Booti " covers all known herbs but it is in Hindi language.

Still some Hindiknowing person might help you.

 

S. M. Acharya smacharya

[Guest guest]

Hi

 

Thanks very much for these additional details. Do you have any

comparative firsthand experience with the effects of the different

species mentioned? I am strictly interested in the highest potency as

defined by the ayurvedic texts, especially the spritual qualities.

 

Thanks,

 

Ole

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

What is the contact info for this person? But since I dont know

hindi, so this is not practical. I guess I could find more specific

info in the Indian Materia Medica. I have now made some enquiries to

my ayurvedic export contacts in Thrissur, Kerala.

 

Thanks,

 

Ole

 

______________________________

You may ask Ayurvedacharya Balkrishanji of Divya Yoga trust. He is

an authority. His book on " Jadi Booti " covers all known herbs but it

is in Hindi language.

[Guest guest]

I just read that the Materia Medicas like Bhavaprakasa and Raja

Nighantu etc mention another variety of vacha, sveta vacha or hemavati

which Dravyaguna vijnana identities as Iris germanica. It is reported

that there is another variety of vacha (Acorus gramineus, Soland)

found growing abundantly in the Himalayas. The shweta vacha mentioned

in the ancient textbooks might perhaps be this plant. If anyone has

further info on these aspects, please come forward and share.

 

Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Dear

 

Since nobody would be harvesting any crops from the Kashmir valley

now, and other genetic species, as you tell us, would have high

amounts of hepato-toxic beta-asarone, do you think its recommended to

import Vacha root for our domestic consumption from US and Europe ?

 

Regards, Puneet

________________________

The hexaploid (6n) Acorus calamus found in Kashmir valley, as well as

the triploid (3n) European genetic species has the lowest levels of

the potentially hepatotoxic beta-asarone (~5-10%). However, the

North American diploid (2n) species has no beta-asarone at all, and

is a better choice where this is a concern, such as pre-existing

liver conditions. Other genetic species in India contain as much as

75% beta-asarone in the essential oil, and are probably best avoided.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ole

 

I am not sure how reliable these texts are, at least as far as the

botany. Anyway, in my experience a name can refer to several

different plants, based on some similar aspect, e.g. Brahmi is both

Centella and Bacopa, Ashwagandha is both Withania and Convovulus

arbensis, and Shankhapushpi ca be up to eight different species

including Evolvulus, Clitoria, Canscora, Convovulus etc. etc. The

key thing is to see if in fact how similar these plants are,

organoleptically and empirically. As far as Vacha goes, a synonym is

'ugragandha', referring to its 'strongly aromatic' properties. I

haven't used Iris germanica, but have used Iris versicolor (Blue

Flag), and it neither has the same medicinal properties as Acorus,

nor has anything close to the same aroma. It is also not a little

toxic, used as a strong alterative and stimulant to the liver and

bowels. Acorus gramineus is a smaller fertile diploid species found

extensively from the Himalayas to Japan. It is used in Chinese

medicine, (as Shi Chang Pu) to dispel phlegm and open the channels,

strengthen digestion and dispel bloating, and relieve pain. For my

preference, the odour of A. gramineus isn't nearly as pleasant as A.

calamus.

Caldecott, Dip. Cl.H, RH(AHG)

Ayurvedic practitioner, Medical Herbalist

203 - 1750 East 10th Ave

Vancouver, BC V5N 5K4 CANADA

web: http//:www.toddcaldecott.com

email: todd

tel: (1)778.896.8894

fax: (1)866.703.2792

 

________________-

I just read that the Materia Medicas like Bhavaprakasa and Raja

Nighantu etc mention another variety of vacha, sveta vacha or hemavati

which Dravyaguna vijnana identities as Iris germanica. It is reported

that there is another variety of vacha (Acorus gramineus, Soland)

found growing abundantly in the Himalayas. The shweta vacha mentioned

in the ancient textbooks might perhaps be this plant. If anyone has

further info on these aspects, please come forward and share.

[Guest guest]

I have consumed various Calamus sp at various doses and unfortunately

I am still a schmuck. Go for the zero/low asarone content with a

pleasant, uplifting odour.

 

best wishes...

Caldecott, Dip. Cl.H, RH(AHG)

Ayurvedic practitioner, Medical Herbalist

203 - 1750 East 10th Ave

Vancouver, BC V5N 5K4 CANADA

web: http//:www.toddcaldecott.com

email: todd

tel: (1)778.896.8894

fax: (1)866.703.2792

_________________

Do you have any

comparative firsthand experience with the effects of the different

species mentioned?

[Guest guest]

Thanks Todd. About Brahmi, I read several places that Charaka

distinquish Centella as Mandukaparni and Bacopa as Brahmi.

 

Where to obtain the most potent wildcrafted whole root american

calamus? Any sources in Canada?

 

Thanks, Ole

[Guest guest]

> Since nobody would be harvesting any crops from the Kashmir valley

> now, and other genetic species, as you tell us, would have high

> amounts of hepato-toxic beta-asarone, do you think its recommended to

> import Vacha root for our domestic consumption from US and Europe ?

 

 

dear Puneet,

 

Perhaps you might do some research to determine which genetic species

from which regions in India have a low asarone content. I am sure

there are other places outside of Kashmir where they are found,

perhaps in Chhatisgarh. I have read that there are wild diploid

species of A. calamus in Siberia as well, with some thought that

these may be one and the same as the NA species. As for importation

from NA, there simply isn't enough to supply all the Vacha-users in

India, and its comparatively expensive ($25-30/lb). Even here, its

not all that common to find wild-crafted A. americanus.

 

all the best from snowy Vancouver,

Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com

[Guest guest]

> About Brahmi, I read several places that Charaka

> distinquish Centella as Mandukaparni and Bacopa as Brahmi.

 

 

hi Ole

 

yes, that's how we can distinguish them, through their other synonyms

 

Mandukparni means " frog-leaved " , probably referring the obicular

reniform leaves that sort of look like frog

 

> Where to obtain the most potent wildcrafted whole root american

> calamus? Any sources in Canada?

 

try http://www.lonewolfherbdir.com/siteimages/lonewolf_order_form.pdf

 

you can also try Herbalist and Alchemist

http://www.herbalist-alchemist.com

 

Michael Moore has a nice list of herbal resources here: http://

www.swsbm.com/Resources/ResList.html

There are several good companies listed - try to find one

specializing in wildcrafted products.

 

Calamus has a problematic legal status in the US and Canada, due to

the carcinogenic asarone content, so it's availability is not widely

advertised among herbalists for fear of getting into hot water.

However, many herbalists wildcraft it themselves, for use in their

own practice.

Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com