Ayurveda and Science

Bach/बच/Acorus calamus/Sweet Flag/Vacha

AYURVEDIC & MEDICINAL PLANTS

Hindi Name: Bach

Sanskrit Name: Vacha

English Name: Sweet Flag

Latin Name: Acorus calamus

Hardy perennial herb of marshy places, to 6 feet tall, aromatic, rhizome stout, pinkish; leaves to 3/4 inch wide, with a prominent midrib; spadix stout, to 4 inches long. The genus Acorus is considered to be the most primitive extant monocot.

Acorus Calamus Medicinal Uses

The root is carminative, slightly tonic, and excitant, and forms a useful adjunct to other tonics and stimulants. It may be used in cases of flatulent colic, atonic dyspepsia, feebleness of the digestive organs, and to aid the action of cinchona or quinine in intermittents as recommended by Ayurveda. It forms an excellent substitute, in syrup, for Godfrey"s cordial. In flatulent colic of infants it is best combined with magnesia. Externally, it is a valuable application to indolent ulcers, and to keep up the discharges from blistered surfaces and issues. Dose of the infusion made by scalding 4 drachms of the root, coarsely bruised, in 8 fluid ounces of water, from 4 to 6 fluid ounces; of the powdered root, 20 to 40 grains; a tincture may be prepared from 1 part of the root and 5 parts of alcohol.

Get Rid of Flatulence

Chemical Composition

Vacha contains essential oil, resin, extractive with chloride of potassium, gum with phosphate of potassium, starchy matter, woody fiber, and water. Besides this there is Acorin, Eugenol, Cafeine etc.

Effect on

Doshas

Pacifies Vata & Kapha.
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Amaltas Plant

A medium sized tree with brilliant yellow flowers growing at roadside and gardens. Long cylindrical pods of the tree are used in Ayurveda.

Ashoka Plant

Indigenous to India, Burma and Malaya, it is an erect tree, small and evergreen, with a smooth, grey-brown bark. The crown is compact and shapely.

Bharangi Plant

A slightly woody shrub with bluntly quadrangular stems and branches found forests in all parts of India upto an altitude of 1500m. Root, stem and leaves are used medicinally.

Guggulu Plant

A small tree or shrub with alternate serrate leaves in the arid and rocky zones in certain parts of south-west and north-western India. Gum resin from the stem is tapped which is used in the preparation of various Ayurvedic preparations.

Chitvan

The tree grows from 50 to 80 feet high, has a furrowed trunk, oblong stalked leaves up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, dispersed in four to six whorls round the stem, their upper side glossy, under side white, nerves running at right angles to the mid