Vacha

Name-vacha

Botanical Name -:Acorus calamus

Family -: Araceae

English Name -: Sweet flag 

Synonyms -: Ugra gandha Golomi 

Lomashi, jatila Sataparvika Shadgrandha Haimavati

mangalyaKarshani

Classical Categorization -Ugra, Jatila, lorrasa,

Caraka : Lekhaniya, Arsöghna, Trptighna, Ästhāpanopaga, Sirovirecana, Sanj ñāsthapana, Šitapraśamana

Suśruta : Pippalyādi, Mustādi, Vacādi

Morphology -: Perennial terrestrial herb of marshy places

Stem

- Stout, creeping

Rhizome - aromatic

Leaves

- Sword shaped, erect, shar pointed,

sheathing each other, midrib is stoutparallel

venation

Inflorescence - Spadix

Flower - Densely cover the entire spadix,

greenish yellow

Fruit - Turbinate, prismatic, pyramidal

Useful part - Rhizome

- Sub cylindrical light

brown colour. upper surface shows leaf scars,

while lower surface bear small raised circular

root scars.

Chemical composition -: piperine,piperlongumine

Rasa-katu tikta

Guna-Laghu, teekshna

Virya-ushna 

Vipaka-Katu 

Part used-:rhizome 

Indication -:kantya shoolahara jantuahara 

Important Preparation -: Kolakulathadi Choornam Manasamitra Vatakam Brahmi Vati

Dosage-Powder 150-500 mg

Major Chemical

Constituents- Acolamone, acorenone, acorag-ermacrone, acoramone, acorone, cis-& ?trans-asarone, & of-asarone, azulene, cadalene, calacone, calacorene, calamene, calamenol,-gurjunene, camphene, eugenol, calamone, calamenone, calamenene, calarene, telekin, preisocalamendiol, acoric acid, calamen diol, calamenone etc.

Therapeutic Uses

(1) Amlapitta- Vacā powder is taken with honey and jaggery (G.N.) (2) Apasmāra- Vaca powder (10 g) should be taken with honey and ghee for three days

and milk is used in the diet (V.S.). (3) Sopha & Vrddhi- The paste of Vaca and Sarsapa may be applied locally (V.M. &

Chemistry

Calamus leaves and rhizomes contain a volatile oil that gives a characteristic odor and flavor. Major components of the oil are beta- asarone (as much as 75%), methyl isoeugenol (as much as 40%) and alpha-asarone, saponins, lectins, sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and steroids. Phytochemicals in the plant vary according to geographic location, plant age, climate, species variety, and plant component extracted. Diploids do not contain beta-asarone. 

oil valued in the perfume industry. The essence from the rhizome is used as a flavor for foods, alcoholic beverages, and bitters in