VACHA : Acorus calamus - Araceae
Part used : Roots
Energetics :
- Rasa (taste) : Pungent, Bitter, Astringent
- Virya (action) : Heating
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect) : Pungent
- Guna (quality) : Dry, Light and Penetrating
Doshas: VK-, P+
Dhatus (tissues): Plasma, Muscle, Fat, Nerve, Reproductive
Srotas (systems) : Nervous, Digestive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Reproductive
Action :
Carminative, cephalic, nervous stimulant, anthelmintic,awakens digestive fire, digests toxins, remover of residues, destroys worms, benefits emotional problems, used to treat epilepsy, rejuvenative to the mind, purges the orfices of the head of kapha and ama.
According to Indian Ayurvedic tradition, Vacha is a 'sattvic' herb which feeds and transmutes the sexual 'kundalini' energy.
Indications :
MIND : v
Its primary application is to open the mind, improve concentration, clarity and speech. It is often part of a formula made to treat depression where there is mental ama. This acrid root is also used in developmental problems in children and where there maybe speech difficulty post stroke. It encourages the flow of udana and pranavayu. By nourishing sadhaka pitta it specifically strengthens the ability of the mind to receive information and recall from memory. It ctually scrapes mental ama and stagnation from the subtle channels of the mind.
GIT :
Calms the nerves in the GIT, prevents fermentation and clears excess kapha from the intestines; dyspepsia, flatulence, borborygmus. Vacha regulates samana vayu and kledaka kapha. High doses can cause vomiting.
LUNGS: Clears damp, wet coughs from the lungs. This is also connected with its affinity for the throat- it clears 'obstructions' from the throat. Excellent remedy for sinus congestion, nasal polyps and rhinitis from kapha aggravation.
URINE:
Used traditionally for urinary gravel and infections by removing the kapha deposits.
Calamus thrives in wet, damp marshland and is semi-aquatic; its qualities treat similar 'terrain' in the whole system- sluggish, congested, heavy, murky conditions, like those of a a marshland, are opposed by the warm, penetrating and stimulating qualities of Vacha.
Always combine it with other aromatic herbs to off-set the emetic nature- Fennel, Peppermint.
Contraindications :
Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Use for one month on and then have one month off.
Dosage :
3 - 10 g par jour
1/2 teaspoon morning and evening miwed with some honey.
Mix with shikakai as paste for hair growth (to apply on scalp)
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