College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Vacha (calamus, Sweet Flag) HERBAL POWDER (ACORUS CALAMUS)

Enlivening herb used to revitalize skin and support proper function of the lymphatic system.

3.00 out of 5 stars 2 ratings

Customer Reviews

3.00 out of 5 stars
Sign in to review or comment

See all reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Vacha was banned for internal consumption in the United States. Joyful Belly sells Vacha for external use only. Vacha is an enlivening herb used to revitalize skin and support proper function of the lymphatic system. It is often rubbed on the skin to remove excess massage oil after abhyanga. It is often included in nasya oil where it stimulates the mind and improves concentration and focus.

SUGGESTED USE

External use only or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my herbs?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry metabolic nature. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritate and heat up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Acrid

STRONG ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Emetic

STRONG EMETIC

An herb that causes vomiting and nausea.

SEE ALL 'EMETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Improves Focus

IMPROVES-FOCUS

Reduces scattered thoughts. Creates a steady mind. Includes herbs that relax (for Vata) and herbs that stimulate (for Kapha).

SEE ALL 'IMPROVES-FOCUS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Stimulant

NERVE-STIMULANT

Provide short lived stimulation of the nervous system.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Abortifacient

ABORTIFACIENT

An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. These herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy.

SEE ALL 'ABORTIFACIENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)

  • Green Tea

    Green Tea has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Nerve-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antidepressant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-stimulant, Antidepressant, Galactagogue, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Improves-focus, Anti-inflammatory, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Nervine, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory, Galactagogue, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antidepressant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Improves-focus, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Nerve-stimulant, Cardiac-stimulant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Abortifacient, Emetic, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Abortifacient, Emetic, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Abortifacient, Emetic, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Stevia

    Stevia has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Nerve-stimulant, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Ajwain

    Ajwain has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Refreshing, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)

  • Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

    Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Cardiac-stimulant, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Antidepressant, Nerve-stimulant, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-stimulant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antidepressant, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-stimulant, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Improves-focus

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Hyssop Powder

    Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-stimulant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Antidepressant, Cardiac-stimulant, Improves-focus

    LEARN MORE

  • Cold Shower / Bath

    Cold Shower / Bath has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Antidepressant, Cardiac-stimulant, Nerve-stimulant, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Regular exercise

    Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Antidepressant, Cardiac-stimulant, Nerve-stimulant, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Emetic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag) may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Look for similar items by category

Herbs-and-Formulas, Mind-Stress-Sleep
Satisfaction Guarantee

Winter Diet

Winter is a season of stagnant & thick blood

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Reviews for Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)

(3.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings
Sign in to review or comment

sonia tigero Hollywood, FL
2013-06-07
“Hi John! I ordered Vacha Calamus for cellulite treatment. Also to massage my legs with mustard oil and sesame oil (50/50) and scrub my skin with Vacha powder. I read this in an Ayurveda book and I want to improve my orange skin :) Thank you so much! "
Susan Simonetti Cocoa beach, FL
2014-06-10
“John: I was wondering where you get your Vacha from? Do you know what region/area of the world it comes from? Is this a native American plant? Susan S. Cocoa Beach FL"
Katie Clinton Ferndale, sligo, AL
2020-09-30
“Vacha is mainly cultivated in northern India and tends to do well in wet marshy land."
Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
1