Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag, is a seasoning and herb traditionally used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for its cognitive-enhancing properties.
Preclinical studies suggested that Acorus calamus supplementation had potential for treating neuropathic pain.
Unfortunately, supplementation of Acorus calamus is not practical. Studies that last longer than a year show that even very low-dose supplementation can cause organ damage and intestinal tumors. This is because Acorus calamus contains β-asarone, which is toxic and a known carcinogen.
The main mechanism of Acorus calamus involves a potent interaction with GABAA receptors.
The active ingredient in Acorus calamus is β-asarone, which is also responsible for the plant’s main mechanism. Though it is possible to extract and remove β-asarone from the plant in order to make supplementation safe, this process also renders the plant useless.
