Talk:Vacha
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Vacha |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Acorus calamus L. |
| Family | Araceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Acorus calamus L., popularly known as Vacha, is a semi-aquatic perennial herbaceous plant native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. It is widely revered in Ayurveda as a powerful medhya (nootropic) and nervine tonic, highly valued for improving intellect, memory, speech, and managing cognitive or neurological disorders. Its rhizome has been used in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Chinese medicine for nervous disorders, colic, cough, fever, inflammation and digestive complaints, and modern studies have examined several of these uses.[1]
English name
Sweet flag
Therapeutic Uses
Colic pain (sula), Epilepsy (apasmara), Bronchial asthma (svasa), Cough (kasa), Constipation (vibandha), Insanity (unmada), Abdominal distension (adhmana), Ear discharge (karna srava), Smrti daurbalya.[2]
Other Varieties / Other Botanical names
- Calamus aromaticus Garsault
Raja Nighantu
Mentioned 2 types[3]
- Vacha – Acorus calamus
- Sweta vacha – Iris germanica
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Vacha, Haimavati, Shadgrantha (rhizome of vacha has more than six nodes on it), Ugragandha (very strong odour), Golomi (rhizome of vacha has hairs over it resembling the hair of cow), Lomasa (rhizome is hairy).
Additional Synonyms in Bhavprakasha Nighantu
Shataparvika, Kshudra patri, Mangalya (auspicious drug), Jatilogra[4]
Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Pungent (katu), Bitter (tikta) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Hot (ushna) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu), Sharp (tikshna) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify Kapha and Vata |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 2/9 | Virechana (Therapeutic purgation) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 3/5 | Churna pradeha (external application) |
| 3 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(3) | Lekhaniya (emaciating) mahakashaya |
| 4 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(11) | Truptighna (anti-satiety) mahakashaya |
| 5 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(12) | Arshoghna (anti-hemorrhoids) mahakashaya |
| 6 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(25) | Asthapanopag (helping corrective enema) mahakashaya |
| 7 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(42) | Sheetaprashamana (pacifying cold) mahakashaya |
| 8 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(48) | Sandnyasthapana (restoring consciousness) mahakashaya |
| 9 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 23/15 | Santarpanajanya vikar chikitsa (treatment of disease of over-nutrition) |
| 10 | Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 8/143 | Tiktaskandha (group of bitter drugs) |
| 11 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/34 | Garbhasya pratimasik karma |
| 12 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/38 | Sukha prasavartha |
| 13 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/47 | Jatamatra balak paricharya |
| 14 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/61 | Kshirajanan karma |
| 15 | Cha.Sa. Kalpa Sthana 1/14 | Vamanartha (for emesis) |
| 16 | Cha.Sa. Kalpa Sthana 7/16 | Preparations of Trivrut |
| 17 | Cha.Sa. Kalpa Sthana 7/54 | Trivrutadi Modaka |
| 18 | Cha.Sa. Kalpa Sthana 7/58 | Hemantkalina Trivrut Yoga |
| 19 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/25 | Body purification before rasayana treatment |
| 20 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/204 | As an ingredient of Vatsakadi kashaya |
| 21 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/250 | As an ingredient of Jeevantyadi anuvasana basti |
| 22 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/267 | In formulation of Agurvadi taila |
| 23 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/307 | In Vishamajwara for Dhoopana |
| 24 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/70 | Ingredient of Hingusauvarchaladya ghrita |
| 25 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/80 | Ingredient of Hingvadi churna |
| 26 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/86 | Ingredient of Shatyadi Churna |
| 27 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/44 | Ingredient in Bhallatakadya Ghrita for Kaphaj Gulma |
| 28 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 6/38 | Trikantakadhya Tail/Ghrit in Vata-kaphaj prameha |
| 29 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/68 | Ingredient in Triphaladi Churna |
| 30 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/100 | Kwath prayog in Kapha-Pittaj Kushtha |
| 31 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/103 | Bahyaprayogarth tail in Kushtha |
| 32 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/113 | Ingredient in Kanakakshiri Taila |
| 33 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 8/75 | As a Swedana (fomentation) dravya |
| 34 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 9/45 | Ingredient in Mahapaishachik Ghrita |
| 35 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 9/64 | Used as Nasya and Anjana prayogartha |
| 36 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 9/69 | Ingredient in Siddharthakadi Agada |
| 37 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 10/25 | Ingredient in Brahmi Ghrita |
| 38 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 10/27 | Ingredient in Vachadi Ghrita |
| 39 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 10/34 | Ingredient in Palankashadi taila |
| 40 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 10/42 | As a Nasya dravya |
| 41 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 10/64 | Ingredient in Atattvabhinivesh nashak yoga |
| 42 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/109 | In treatment of Udara roga (for parisheka) |
| 43 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/104 | In treatment of pleehodara (takraprayoga) |
| 44 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/124 | As an ingredient of gavakshyadi churna |
| 45 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/126 | As an ingredient of narayan churna |
| 46 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/134 | As an ingredient of hapushadya churna |
| 47 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/158 | In formulation of pippalyadi lavana |
| 48 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 13/163 | In formulation of Ksharvatika |
| 49 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/41 | Used in swedana kriya (fomentation therapy) |
| 50 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/53 | As an ingredient of traushnadi churna |
| 51 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/131 | Used in anuvasan basti |
| 52 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/99 | Churna of this drug with combination of ativisa, musta, devdaru etc. given in ama and shoola yukta mala |
| 53 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/101 | Churna with hingu, ativisa, abhaya used in Sama and Vatakapha adhika grahani with kostha shoola |
| 54 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/103 | Used in condition of shoola in kaphapittaja grahani |
| 55 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/125 | As an ingredient of candanadhya ghrita |
| 56 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/134, 15/137 | As an ingredient of Kiratadhya churna |
| 57 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/182 | As an ingredient of Bhunimbadhya Kshara |
| 58 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/189 | Used in preparation of Pancham Kshara |
| 59 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 17/143 | As an ingredient of Tejovatyadi ghrita |
| 60 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 18/36 | As a ghrita dravya |
| 61 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 18/53 | As an ingredient of chitrakadi leha |
| 62 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 18/112 | As an ingredient of kataphaladi kwath |
| 63 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 18/161 | As an ingredient of guduchyadi ghrita |
| 64 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/20 | As a pramathya dravya |
| 65 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/22 | As an ama pachak dravya |
| 66 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/27 | As an ingredient of dipaniya and sangrahi gana |
| 67 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/45 | As an anuvasana dravya |
| 68 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/105 | As a kwath dravya |
| 69 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/118 | As piccha basti dravya |
| 70 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/70 | As an ingredient of Gandha hasti agada |
| 71 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/80 | As an ingredient of Maha-Gandha hasti agada |
| 72 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/212 | Used in treatment of Vishvambhara etc. kita poison |
| 73 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/20 | As an ingredient of Dviruttarahingvadi churna |
| 74 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/21 | As an ingredient of Vachadi churna |
| 75 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/22 | As an ingredient of 2nd Dviruttarahingvadi churna |
| 76 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/61 | As an ingredient of Pashanbhedadi churna |
| 77 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/85 | As an ingredient of Pushkarmuladi yoga |
| 78 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/97 | Used in kaphaja hrudroga (heart disease) |
| 79 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/138 | Used in Vataja Pratishyaya (rhinitis) for Nasya karma |
| 80 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/152 | Used in Kaphaja Pratishyaya (rhinitis) for Pradhamana nasya |
| 81 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/153 | As an ingredient of Bhargyadi taila |
| 82 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/209 | As an ingredient of Khadiradi gutika |
| 83 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/223 | As an ingredient of Devadarvyadi taila for Karnashoola |
| 84 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/226 | As an ingredient of Kshara taila |
| 85 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 27/31 | As an ingredient of Urustambha nashak Yoga |
| 86 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 27/36 | As an ingredient of Swarnakshiradi yoga |
| 87 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 27/41 | As an ingredient of Piluparnyadi Yoga |
| 88 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/154 | As an ingredient of Bala taila |
| 89 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/161 | As an ingredient of Amrutadi taila |
| 90 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/168 | As an ingredient of Mulakadhya taila |
| 91 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/149 | Apply lepa for Vatakaphaja Vatarakta |
| 92 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/152 | As an ingredient of Triphaladi kalka in tridoshaja shola |
| 93 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/54 | As an ingredient of Pippalyadi yoga |
| 94 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/252 | Used in treatment of Stanya dosha, for vamana |
| 95 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/273 | Used in treatment of Dorgandhya Stanya dosha |
| 96 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/277 | Used in treatment of Pichhila stanya |
Dose
Churna
- 60–120 mg (therapeutic dose)
- 1–2 g (for inducing vomiting)[2]
Important Formulations
As per A.P.I.[2]
- Vachadi Taila
- Vacha Lashunadi Taila
- Sarasvata Churna
- Sarasvatarishta
- Manasamitra Vataka
- Chandraprabha Vati
- Khadiradi Vati
- Hingu Vachadi Churna
Current Availability
Available
- In India: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka.
- Out of India: China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Europe, Germany, Russia, Canada, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Australia, Oceania.
Phytoconstituents
Major classes of compounds
A comprehensive review reports that about 145 constituents have been isolated and identified from the plant. They belong mainly to the phenylpropanoids (including α-asarone and β-asarone), sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenes, with triterpenoid saponins and other compounds also described.[5]
Essential oil of the rhizome
GC/MS analysis of the rhizome essential oil showed β-asarone (79.54%) and α-asarone (8.47%) as the major constituents. The asarone content varies between plant chemotypes, so these figures apply only to the sample studied.[6]
Therapeutic Efficacy: Pharmacological Evidence
The evidence summarised below comes from animal and in vitro studies. No controlled human clinical trial of Acorus calamus was verified during the preparation of this monograph.
Nootropic activity (Medhya, Smrti daurbalya)
In an in vitro Ellman assay, the hydroalcoholic extract, the essential oil and the main constituents of the rhizome inhibited acetylcholinesterase. β-Asarone, the major constituent of the oil, showed the strongest inhibition. This offers a biochemical basis for the traditional use of Vacha to improve memory, although enzyme inhibition in vitro does not by itself prove a memory-enhancing effect in humans.[6]
Neuroprotective activity
Acorus calamus extract was reported to have a neuroprotective effect against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischaemia in rats.[7]
Central nervous system and sedative activity (Unmada)
An ethanol extract of the rhizome was screened for central nervous system activity in mice and rats. It produced a number of actions similar to those of α-asarone, though it differed from it in some respects.[8]
Anticonvulsant activity (Apasmara)
The effect of Acorus calamus on behavioural, electroencephalographic and antioxidant changes was studied in ferric chloride-induced epileptogenesis in rats. The authors concluded that the plant has potential to be developed as an antiepileptic agent.[9]
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity
In rats, methanol and n-hexane extracts of the rhizome (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. Paw inflammation in the carrageenan model was significantly reduced.[10]
Gastroprotective activity (Shula, Adhmana)
Antisecretagogue, antiulcer and cytoprotective properties of Acorus calamus were reported in rats. This is consistent with its traditional use in colic and abdominal distension, but the data are from animals only.[11]
Safety, Toxicity, and Precautions
- Asarone toxicity: The European Medicines Agency's herbal committee stated that α- and β-asarone are genotoxic and cause liver cancer in rodents. It advised caution with herbal products containing asarone, especially those from Acorus species.[12]
- Precautions (inference, not from a cited study): High doses or prolonged use of crude, unstandardised preparations should be avoided, since asarone content varies between plant varieties. Pregnant women and young children should use Vacha only under qualified supervision.
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Experimental finding | Type of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Memory and cognition (Medhya) | Acetylcholinesterase inhibition by extract, oil and β-asarone | In vitro |
| Neurological injury | Neuroprotection against induced cerebral ischaemia | Rat model |
| Epilepsy (Apasmara) | Inhibition of ferric chloride-induced epileptogenesis | Rat model |
| Pain, inflammation and fever | Dose-dependent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects | Rat models |
| Colic, abdominal distress | Antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective effects | Rat model |
References
- ↑ 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):268–276. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2013.09.020. PMID: 24200497
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume II:74.
- ↑ Dr. Indradev Tripathi, Raj Nighantu of Pandit Narahari, ed.2006, Chaukhambha Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi; Pippalyadi Varga – 52.
- ↑ Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Haritakyadi Varga, verse no. 102, p. 42.
- ↑ Sharma V, Sharma R, Gautam DS, Kuča K, Nepovimová E, Martins N. Role of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) in neurological and metabolic disorders: evidence from ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(4):1176. doi:10.3390/jcm9041176
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mukherjee PK, Kumar V, Mal M, Houghton PJ. In vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the essential oil from Acorus calamus and its main constituents. Planta Medica. 2007;73(3):283–285. doi:10.1055/s-2007-967114. PMID: 17286241
- ↑ Shukla PK, Khanna VK, Ali MM, Maurya R, Khan MY, Srimal RC. Neuroprotective effect of Acorus calamus against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischaemia in rat. Human & Experimental Toxicology. 2006;25(4):187–194. doi:10.1191/0960327106ht613oa
- ↑ Vohora SB, Shah SA, Dandiya PC. Central nervous system studies on an ethanol extract of Acorus calamus rhizomes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1990;28(1):53–62. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(90)90065-2
- ↑ Hazra R, Ray K, Guha D. Inhibitory role of Acorus calamus in ferric chloride-induced epileptogenesis in rat. Human & Experimental Toxicology. 2007;26(12):947–953.
- ↑ Bari MU, et al. Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-pyretic activities of Acorus calamus rhizome extracts in animal models. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 2024. doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/20240506024014
- ↑ Rafatullah S, Tariq M, Mossa JS, Al-Yahya MA, Al-Said MS, Ageel AM. Antisecretagogue, anti-ulcer and cytoprotective properties of Acorus calamus in rats. Fitoterapia. 1994;65(1):19–23.
- ↑ European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing asarone. EMEA/HMPC/139215/2005. 2005.