Vacha is a very very important herb that is considered so very highly in Ayurveda. This is also one herb that is very commonly used in home remedies and especially in village sides you will never find a single person who is not aware of this amazing herb. It is popularly and commonly called sweet flag in English and it’s botanical name is Acorus Calamus. It is called vasambu in Tamil, vacha in Sanskrit and bach in Hindi. It is an ancient herb and it’s usage dates back centuries. It has wide variety of names like sweet myrtle, sweet root, calamus, etc which shows it’s popularity all over the world. Here in Tamil Nadu, vacha is called child’s herb as it is treats all the ailments of the babies. We regularly use vasambu for babies in the form of bracelets, to make bindis and to treat all the stomach ailments. This is one herb that I have never been without and even though now my son is grown up, I always have the dried root at home. The root is easily available in the ayurvedic shops, after buying the roots make sure to sun dry well before storing. Vacha has an amazing sweet smell that I completely love. The calamus essential oil derived from acorus calamus plant also has wide variety of medicinal uses. Though you get the powder in the markets, I would suggest getting the dried roots from the markets and make the powder yourself each time. It is easy and can be made in matter of minutes. To make the powder, take a long piece of the vacha and burn it directly in the flame till it turns black. when you are burning vacha the smell that emanates is incredible. Once it cools, powder it in a mortar and pestle. The powder is not bitter and can be easily given to children. Vacha should never be over consumed as it might cause vomiting and stomach problems. Pregnant women should be extremely cautious while consuming vacha.
10 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS & MEDICINAL USES OF ACORUS CALAMUS| CALAMUS ROOT | SWEET FLAG
1. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Babies:
If small babies don’t take their feed and their stomach is bloated and they pass gas often, they might be suffering from indigestion. To treat it, take a long pieces of vacha and burn it in direct flame, cool and powder it. Mix a small pinch of vacha powder in breast milk and give it to the babies.
2. Acorus Calamus | Vacha Bracelets:
Tying
vacha teething bracelets for children is a tradition that has been
followed for many years in India. Vacha has
got anti bacterial, anti flatulent properties that keeps the babies free
from diseases. Each time the baby sucks on the vacha pieces, a very
small amount of the vacha extract enters their stomach and this keeps
them from getting stomach disorders and prevents colic. You can find the method of making the bracelet here.
3. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Hair Lice:
We
also use vacha it for external applications and one such preparation is
homemade hair oil that is very effective in treating head lice. It is
one of the best natural ingredients available that is very effective in
killing lice. This sweet
flag oil is a natural insecticide and it is so very gentle on the scalp.
It can be safely used without worrying about any side effects. You can find the method of making it here.
4. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Speech Delay, Sore Throat & Cough:
To treat cough and sore throat, take a piece of vacha and break it into a small piece by pounding it in a mortar and pestle. Now take a small broken piece of vacha and suck on it for some time. As the vacha extract enters our throat, we will get good relief from cough and sore throat. Sucking on the root also helps children who suffer from speech delay. We can also give a small pinch of the root powder mixed with honey too.
5. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Indigestion in Adults:
For treating indigestion in adults, take 1/8 th tsp of dry ginger powder and vasambu powder in a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of boiling water to it and let it steep for a few minutes, strain and sweeten with honey. This is a good home remedy for treating all kinds of stomach ailments like indigestion, stomach pain, flatulence, etc
6. Acorus Calamus | Vacha As An Insecticide:
Vacha is a very very effective insecticide. We can mix vacha powder in water and sprinkle to get rid of insects. This is a very safe way to get rid of insects especially in houses where there are small children. We can also use pounded vacha to make small sachets to use in wardrobes and cupboards for getting rid of roaches and insects.
7. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Making Bindi
Instead of applying artificial bindis for children, try bindis made with vacha. To make the bindi paste, burn a piece of vacha in flame till it is fully burnt. Take the burnt piece and rub it in circular motion using boiled water in sandalwood stone till you get a paste. Use this paste to apply bindi for babies.
8. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Depression, Epilepsy & Boosting Memory:
Vacha decoction is very calming on the nerves and is also said to improve memory. It also acts like a nerve tonic helping one relax during stress and depression, you can read the study that proves this use here. It also helps people who suffer from epilepsy. To make the decoction, soak lightly pounded vacha root in a cup boiling hot water till it comes to room temperature and drink.
9. Acorus Calamus | Vacha For Diarrhea:
Vacha is very effective for treating diarrhea. For treating diarrhea in children, burn a piece of vacha and powder it in mortar and pestle. Mix a small pinch of the burnt vacha powder with honey and give it to children twice in a day till they get good relief. But please make sure not to overdose vacha.
10. Calamus Oil For Inflammation & Infections :
We can also use the calamus essential oil for treating various problems. Mixed with a base oil and massaged onto the skin, it prevents all skin infections. It is also very calming and when inhaled helps to get rid of headaches and can be used as a massage oil for arthritis and rheumatic pains too.
Hi Ramya,I am so glad that I found your blog and is very useful in many ways.Keep up your good work and hats off to you on your incredible efforts!
Thank You, I am very glad that you find the blog useful….
Thank you for the information on Vacha. It is very useful. I hope people take advantage of the Ayurvdic medicinal powders, some of them regularly for good health. I have been taking some regularly for nearly 25 years. My age is 82 years and because of regular use of these powders I do not need to take any other madication and I have always been very active.
Grateful if you could share the powders that you refer to in your comment and also the regimen that you follow for healthy living without medictionThis would be a great service to the community and a legacy that would leave behind.Thanks.
Hi Ramya:Very informative! How does one make the vacha oil?thanks
Deepa, please click on the link in step 3, it will take you to the recipe for making vacha oil…
I am from Pakistan and have a problem of speaking delay so what is the cure ???
Try acorus calamus root powder mixed with honey…
Hi Ramya,I have Vacha powder. How would you recommend to take it every day for anxiety problems?Thanks
Hi RamyaI have Vacha powder. How would you recommend to take it every day for anxiety problems?Thanks
I would suggest brahmi tea (there is a recipe for it in the blog) than vacha as it is more beneficial for treating anxiety. Vacha has more of an anti depression effect….
Hello mam, what qnty of roots to be used for memory enhancement ? Can we use fresh roots? As I have this growing in my terrace. Any specific time to drink it?
Can we use fresh roots? How much to use for memory?
I don't have any experience with fresh vacha roots, we always use only the dried roots. A small pinch (around 1 gram) of vacha powder mixed in honey or in warm water can be taken for a period of 2 weeks to enhance memory…
Can i have ur contact number as I have many doubts abt babies health and ur blog is really very useful thanks a lot
Can i have ur contact number as I have many doubts abt babies health and ur blog is really very useful thanks a lot
Why is Vacha banned by the FDA ??
Vacha is banned by the FDA as it has β-asarone in it which is considered toxic at certain levels. Traditionally we burn the vacha root before powdering and this reduces the β-asarone content greatly….
Hi ramya,Will there be any problem if we give on daily basis to baby for bloating and to have bowel movements.
Can calamus root powder be added to foods or is it possible to make tea with the powder if so what dosage is safe?
Hello Ramyaji,I am using Yasti madhu, Vacha, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Brahmi, long pepper, shankh pushpi 1 tea spoon (each equal part 100gms), almond, fig, dates, pista, walnut, cashew. is it ok for me and my girl child of 10 years and boy child of 2 years.
Hi Ramya,Does Vacha cure all skin infections. If so, how do you apply it on your skin?
Please, could you tell me what is the current day and time to pick vacha and what mantra is used for grinding this with gold and honey?
Hi Ramya,My child is having a problem of speech delay he is around 3 years how can i use vacha for speech delay.
Kaya Vacha Manasa -Action, Speech & Mind. Vacha means speech In the grandmother's recipe for peech improvement in children, this herb is briskly rubbed on a sandstone which is used for sandal paste & the paste is mixed in milk/honey& administered on the tongu of the child