CALAMUS: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Calamus is a plant. The root (rhizome) is used to make medicine.

Despite safety concerns, calamus is commonly used for stomach problems, skin problems, earache, and to remove the smell of tobacco, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, calamus is used as a spice.

How does it work ?

It is thought that chemicals in calamus cause muscle relaxation and sleepiness. These chemicals might also reduce swelling, kill cancer cells, and kill insects.

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with CALAMUS
Calamus contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical might increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with CALAMUS
Calamus might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking calamus along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.

Minor Interaction

Be watchful with this combination

Antacids interacts with CALAMUS
Antacids are used to decrease stomach acid. Calamus may increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.Some antacids include calcium carbonate (Tums, others), dihydroxyaluminum sodium carbonate (Rolaids, others), magaldrate (Riopan), magnesium sulfate (Bilagog), aluminum hydroxide (Amphojel), and others.
Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-Blockers) interacts with CALAMUS
Calamus might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of some medications that decrease stomach acid, called H2-Blockers.Some medications that decrease stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).
Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors) interacts with CALAMUS
Calamus might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, calamus might decrease the effectiveness of medications that are used to decrease stomach acid, called proton pump inhibitors.Some medications that decrease stomach acid include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

View References

REFERENCES:

Acuna, U. M., Atha, D. E., Ma, J., Nee, M. H., and Kennelly, E. J. Antioxidant capacities of ten edible North American plants. Phytother Res 2002;16(1):63-65. View abstract.

Aqil, F., Ahmad, I., and Owais, M. Evaluation of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity and synergy of some bioactive plant extracts. Biotechnol.J 2006;1(10):1093-1102. View abstract.

Cho, J., Kong, J. Y., Jeong, D. Y., Lee, K. D., Lee, D. U., and Kang, B. S. NMDA recepter-mediated neuroprotection by essential oils from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus. Life Sci. 2-16-2001;68(13):1567-1573. View abstract.

Gilani, A. U., Shah, A. J., Ahmad, M., and Shaheen, F. Antispasmodic effect of Acorus calamus Linn. is mediated through calcium channel blockade. Phytother Res 2006;20(12):1080-1084. View abstract.

Hanson, K. M., Gayton-Ely, M., Holland, L. A., Zehr, P. S., and Soderberg, B. C. Rapid assessment of beta-asarone content of Acorus calamus by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Electrophoresis 2005;26(4-5):943-946. View abstract.

Hu, B. Y. and Ji, Y. Y. [Research on the anticarcinogenic activation of Acorus calcamus. Anticarcinogenic activation of alpha-asarone on human carcinoma cells]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi. 1986;6(8):480-3, 454. View abstract.

Komalamisra, N., Trongtokit, Y., Rongsriyam, Y., and Apiwathnasorn, C. Screening for larvicidal activity in some Thai plants against four mosquito vector species. Southeast Asian J Trop.Med Public Health 2005;36(6):1412-1422. View abstract.

Koo, B. S., Park, K. S., Ha, J. H., Park, J. H., Lim, J. C., and Lee, D. U. Inhibitory effects of the fragrance inhalation of essential oil from Acorus gramineus on central nervous system. Biol Pharm.Bull. 2003;26(7):978-982. View abstract.

Lee, J. Y., Lee, J. Y., Yun, B. S., and Hwang, B. K. Antifungal activity of beta-asarone from rhizomes of Acorus gramineus. J Agric.Food Chem. 2-25-2004;52(4):776-780. View abstract.

Liao, W. P., Chen, L., Yi, Y. H., Sun, W. W., Gao, M. M., Su, T., and Yang, S. Q. Study of antiepileptic effect of extracts from Acorus tatarinowii Schott. Epilepsia 2005;46 Suppl 1:21-24. View abstract.

Manikandan, S. and Devi, R. S. Antioxidant property of alpha-asarone against noise-stress-induced changes in different regions of rat brain. Pharmacol Res 2005;52(6):467-474. View abstract.

Mathur, A. C. and Saxena, B. P. Induction of sterility in male houseflies by vapors of Acorus calamus L. oil. Naturwissenschaften 1975;62(12):576-577. View abstract.

Mehrotra, S., Mishra, K. P., Maurya, R., Srimal, R. C., Yadav, V. S., Pandey, R., and Singh, V. K. Anticellular and immunosuppressive properties of ethanolic extract of Acorus calamus rhizome. Int Immunopharmacol 2003;3(1):53-61. View abstract.

Oh, M. H., Houghton, P. J., Whang, W. K., and Cho, J. H. Screening of Korean herbal medicines used to improve cognitive function for anti-cholinesterase activity. Phytomedicine 2004;11(6):544-548. View abstract.

Panchal, G. M., Venkatakrishna-Bhatt, H., Doctor, R. B., and Vajpayee, S. Pharmacology of Acorus calamus L. Indian J Exp.Biol 1989;27(6):561-567. View abstract.

Parab, R. S. and Mengi, S. A. Evaluation of hypolipidemic activity of Acorus calamus Linn. in rats. Indian Drugs (India) 2003;40:25-29.

Parab, R. S. and Mengi, S. A. Hypolipidemic activity of Acorus calamus L. in rats. Fitoterapia 2002;73(6):451-455. View abstract.

Pratap, S., Kumar, P., Reddy, D., and Reddy, M. Toxicity studies of selected indian medicinal plants against house fly, Chrysomiya & Culex quinquifasciatus (MAPS-P-412). International Pharmaceutical Federation World Congress 2002;62:134.

Shukla, P. K., Khanna, V. K., Ali, M. M., Maurya, R., Khan, M. Y., and Srimal, R. C. Neuroprotective effect of Acorus calamus against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischaemia in rat. Hum.Exp Toxicol 2006;25(4):187-194. View abstract.

Vargas, C. P., Wolf, L. R., Gamm, S. R., and Koontz, K. Getting to the root (Acorus calamus) of the problem. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1998;36(3):259-260. View abstract.

Björnstad K, Helander A, Hultén P, Beck O. Bioanalytical investigation of asarone in connection with Acorus calamus oil intoxications. J Anal Toxicol 2009;33(9):604-9. View abstract.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publ, 1997.

Chen HP, Yang K, Zheng LS, You CX, Cai Q, Wang CF. Repellant and insecticidal activities of shyobunone and isoshyobunone derived from the essential oil of Acorus calamus rhizomes. Pharmacogn Mag 2015;11(44):675-81. View abstract.

Chen QX, Miao JK, Li C, Li XW, Wu XM, Zhang XP. Anticonvulsant activity of acute and chronic treatment with a-asarone from Acorus gramineus in seizure models. Biol Pharm Bull 2013;36(1):23-30. View abstract.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 189 - Substances Prohibited From Use in Human Food. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=259fa8a1284cad42676075c8425c7333&mc=true&node=pt21.3.189&rgn=div5.

Federal Register. Volume 33, Page 6967. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://api.fdsys.gov/link?collection=fr&volume=33&page=6967. Accessed May 23, 2018.

Katyal J, Sarangal V, Gupta YK. Interaction of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus Linn. with sodium valproate and carbamazepine. Indian J Exp Biol 2012;50(1):51-5. View abstract.

Lee YH, Kim D, Lee MJ, et al. Subchronic toxicity of Acorus gramineus rhizoma in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;183:46-53. View abstract.

Nath P, Yadav AK. Anthelmintic activity of a standardized extract from the rhizomes of Acorus calamus Linn. (Acoraceae) against experimentally induced cestodiasis in rats. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2016;5(4):390-395. View abstract.

Pandit S, Mukherjee PK, Ponnusankar S, Venkatesh M, Srikanth N. Metabolism mediated interaction of a-asarone and Acorus calamus with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Fitoterapia 2011;82(3):369-74. View abstract.

Rajput SB, Shinde RB, Routh MM, Karuppayil SM. Anti-Candida properties of asaronaldehyde of Acorus gramineus rhizome and three structural isomers. Chin Med. 2013;8(1):18. View abstract.

Rajput SB, Tonge MB, Karuppayil SM. An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological profile of Acorus calamus Linn. (Sweet flag) and other Acorus species. Phytomedicine 2014;21(3):268-76 View abstract.

Sharma V, Singh I, Chaudhary P. Acorus calamus (The Healing Plant): a review on its medicinal potential, micropropagation and conservation. Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(18):1454-66. View abstract.

Shoba, F. G. and Thomas, M. Study of antidiarrhoeal activity of four medicinal plants in castor-oil induced diarrhoea. J Ethnopharmacol 2001;76(1):73-76. View abstract.

Vijayapandi P, Annabathina V, SivaNagaSrikanth B, et al. In vitro anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities of Acorus calamus Linn. leaves extracts. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2012;10(1):95-101. View abstract.

15 Ways to Get Protein at Breakfast

Chronic Conditions Common in Minorities

What Vitamins Do You Need as You Age?

Uncontrolled Blood Sugar: How Dangerous Is It?

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS CENTER

DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS CENTER

FIRST AID RESOURCES

RELATED TO VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

CALAMUS

Overview

How does it work ?

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with CALAMUS

Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with CALAMUS

Minor Interaction

Antacids interacts with CALAMUS

Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-Blockers) interacts with CALAMUS

Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors) interacts with CALAMUS

Dosing

You Might Also Like

WebMD Special Sections

Health Solutions

More from WebMD