Calamus
Calamus(Calamus) is a plant whose root stem is used to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, calamus is used for digestive tract problems including stomach ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining, gastritis, flatulence, indigestion and loss of appetite. Calamus is also used as a sedative, to promote sweating and to treat rheumatoid arthritis and strokes. Some people chew calamus to remove tobacco odor and improve overall well-being. Calamus is also chewed as a stimulant or hallucinogen. Some people apply calamus directly to the skin to treat certain skin conditions. In food, calamus is used as a spice.
How does calamus work?
It is believed that the chemicals contained in calamus can relax muscles and have a calming or sedative effect.
How effective is calamus?
There is not enough scientific information to assess the effectiveness of calamus for stomach ulcers, flatulence, stomach upsets, arthritis, stroke and skin conditions, as well as its use as an appetite stimulant. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of calamus in these applications.
Safety and side effects
Calamus is not safe and harmless when taken orally. Calamus can cause kidney damage, tremors and seizures.
In the US, the use of calamus as a spice in food is banned because three of the four species of calamus contain a carcinogenic chemical called beta-isoasarone. The levels of beta-isoasarone can vary widely between species and some products may be safer than others.
Precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: calamus is not safe or safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women when taken orally and therefore should not be used.
Surgeries: Calamus may affect the central nervous system. Calamus could cause excessive drowsiness in combination with medications used during and after surgery. If you use calamus despite all safety concerns, you should therefore stop using it at least 2 weeks before an operation.
Interactions
Care should be taken when using calamus in combination with the following medications: Medications used to treat depression (MAO inhibitors/MAOIs) Calamus contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical could increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.
Sedatives (agents that suppress the CNS)
Calamus can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Drugs that cause drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking calamus in combination with sedatives could cause excessive drowsiness.
Care should be taken when using calamus in combination with the following medications:
Acid blockers
Acid blockers are used to reduce the acidity of stomach acid. Calamus could increase stomach acid production. By increasing stomach acid production in this way, calamus could reduce the effectiveness of acid blockers.
Drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid (H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors)
Calamus could increase stomach acid production. By increasing gastric acid production, calamus could reduce the effectiveness of drugs that reduce gastric acid production.
Dosage
An appropriate dosage of calamus depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for calamus. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.