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.

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.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

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

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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TASTES
Taste Help

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?

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
Acrid

STRONG ACRID

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

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS


Affinity: Mind Stress Sleep
Family: Acoraceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)
Help
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.

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

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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

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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

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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)

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

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

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Green Tea

Green Tea has these Actions in Common

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

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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common

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

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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

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

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Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

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

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Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common

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

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Allspice

Allspice has these Actions in Common

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

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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

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

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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

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

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Stevia

Stevia has these Actions in Common

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

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Ajwain

Ajwain has these Actions in Common

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

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

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

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

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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

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

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

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Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

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

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

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Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

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

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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

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

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Hyssop Powder

Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

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

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Cold Shower / Bath

Cold Shower / Bath has these Actions in Common

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

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Regular exercise

Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

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

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Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

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

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Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

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

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school 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.
  • Antidepressant: Do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Nerve-stimulant: Avoid combining with sedatives such as alcohol, etc.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Look for similar items by category

Herbs-and-Formulas, Mind-Stress-Sleep

Reviews for Vacha (Calamus, Sweet Flag)

full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewblank start reviewblank start review(3.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings
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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!
- sonia tigero, Hollywood, FL , 06-07-13 (Reply)
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
- Susan Simonetti, Cocoa beach, FL
full start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start review
, 06-10-14 (Reply)
Vacha is mainly cultivated in northern India and tends to do well in wet marshy land.
- Katie Clinton, Ferndale, sligo, AL
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 09-30-20 (Reply)
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