The History of the Oldest Traditional Medicinal Plant Ever Known to Mankind: Sweet Flag (Vacha) Acorus Calamus L

Retired Scientist CIMAP(CSIR), MS-78, Sector-D, Aliganj, Lucknow-226024, India

*Corresponding author: Shah NC, Retired Scientist CIMAP(CSIR), MS-78, Sector-D, Aliganj, Lucknow-226024, India, Tel: 91-9415310221, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: September 15, 2024

Publication Date: December 16, 2024

Citation: Shah NC, et al. (2024). The History of the Oldest Traditional Medicinal Plant Ever Known to Mankind: Sweet Flag (Vacha) Acorus Calamus L. Traditional Medicine. 5(3):31.

Copyright: Shah NC, et al. © (2024).

ABSTRACT
For ages, people from all over the world have used the priceless medicinal plant Acorus calamus L. (Acroraceae) Sweetflag or Vacha to treat a variety of common illnesses and problems. It was traded by the Mesopotamian culture over 3,000 years ago. It is reported that during the British era in India, dealers of crude drugs were subject to fines if they failed to open their shops during the night to sell the vacha. This study covers the origin, botany, pharmacognosy, and distribution of the plant, especially in India and other European countries.
In India and other nations, it is also part of the indigenous systems of medicine. Its uses from books written in Arabic and Persian have been translated and provided for the first time. Along with its applications, its chemoprofile, pharmacology, clinical trials, and insecticidal qualities have all been reviewed. Its collection, cultivation, economics in India, and taxonomy of variations and chemotypes are also included. The Atharvaveda, Vacha, is not mentioned; however, a plant is present under the name Auksgandhi. This has been equated with Vacha and the reason has been given.

Keywords: Asarone (α & β), Assyrian Herbals, ‘Aukshagandhi’, Boys Day, Bronchitis, Jalinoos, KitabulJame, Muhete-Azam, Navroj