BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

Biopiracy: Imitations Not Innovations 29
2. ACORUS CALAMUS
Other names: Bach in Hindi and Bengali, Vacha in Sanskrit, Vekhand in
Gujarati and Marathi, Vasa in Telugu, Vasambu in Tamil, Baje gida in Kanada,
Vavambu in Malayalam.
Discription of the plant and its location: A semi-aquatic herb with a creeping
and branched aromatic rhizome. It is found wild as well as cultivated throughout
India and found ascending to 2000 m.
Part/s used: Rhizomes.
Action and indigenous use of the plant: The dried rhizome, which contains
yellow aromatic oil, is known to have emetic and anti-spasmodic properties and
also gives good results in dyspepsia and chronic diarrhoea. It is useful in vitiated
conditions of stomatopathy, hoarseness, colic, flatulence, dyspepsia, helminthiasis,
menstrual disorders, nephropathy, calculi (stone), strangury, cough, bronchitis,
odontalgia, pectoralgia, hepatodynia, otalgia, inflammations, gout epilepsy,
delirium, amentia, convulsions, depression and other mental disorders, tumours,
dysentry, hyperdipsia, haemorrhoids, intermittent fevers, skin diseases, numbness
and general debility.
In action the root stock is aromatic, anti-spasmodic, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac,
astringent bitter, carminative, diuretic, expectorant (cough medicine), emetic
(substance that causes vomiting), emmenagogue, insecticide, nervine tonic,
sedative, tonic and tranquilliser. Indicated in anti-periodic fevers, calculus (stone)
affections, constipation, colic, capillary epilepsy, fever, flatulence, hysteria and
neuralgia (nerve related), insanity, piles and teething troubles and used as a
memory sharpener and longevity enlarger.
Modern use as patented: There are a large number of patent applications
that have been filed, including Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Indian patent
applications.
RU 02141328CI: The Russian patent involves the use of the roots and
rhizomes for several different applications/uses as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory
and immuno-stimulating.