Sweetflag rhizome

Chinese Name: Shi chang pu
Medical Name: Rhizoma Acori Graminei
Latin Name: Acorus gramineus
Origin: Dried root
Taste: Pungent and bitter in flavor

Quotes from Chinese historical sources

THE HERBAL CLASSIC OF SHEN-NONG: "Treats damp arthralgia due to wind-cold and coughing and dyspnea due to abnormal rise of lung-qi."
"Opens the aperture of the heart, nourishes the five zang-organs, improves hearing and vision and promotes vocalization. It can strengthen the body, maintain memory, prevent confusion and promote longevity."

THE COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Sudden unconsciousness due to attack by pathogens, infantile convulsive seizures due to sudden terror and epilepsy, hematochezia and metrorrhagia."
"Arrests vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and relieves carbuncles and cellulitis."

COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Warm in its pungency and bitterness and having a dispersing aroma, this herb opens the aperture of the heart, clears the nine passages, improves hearing and vision, promotes vocalization, removes dampness, dispels wind, eliminates phlegm, relieves food stagnancy, whets the appetite, relieves mental depression and cures cases of dysentery in which there is inability to take food."

Western Research

Life Sci 2001 Feb 16;68(13):1567-73
NMDA recepter-mediated neuroprotection by essential oils from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus.
Cho J, Kong JY, Jeong DY, Lee KD, Lee DU, Kang BS.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Kyongju, Kyongbuk, Korea.
Acori graminei Rhizoma (AGR) is shown to exhibit a number of pharmacological actions including sedation and anticonvulsive action. The results demonstrated that EO extracted from AGR exhibited neuroprotective effects on cultured cortical neurons through the blockade of NMDA receptor activity, and that the glycine binding site appeared not to be the major site of action.