Among hundreds of essential oils, few are known for their valuable health benefits only. Calamus essential oil is one of them. Extracted from calamus plant roots, calamus essential oil is a colorless to pale yellow viscous oils with a faintly sweet, waxy scent. Calamus roots thrive in swampy ditches and marshes and are native to Europe and Asia.
Ancient Uses of Calamus Root and Calamus Essential Oil
People across different civilizations in the world used the calamus root for one or another purpose. Egyptians used calamus root as a potent aphrodisiac that improved the reproductive system, while Indonesians used aromatic root to flavor meat, seafood, and other vegetarian cuisines. Traditional Turks used this herb for diverse infections and in preparing cough drops.
Europeans added it to wine, while Penobscot people employed it to treat prolonged illness. Ancient Chinese medicine practitioners used the herb and its oil for carminative, laxative, sedative, and diuretic properties.
Calamus has held a significant place in Ayurveda – an Indian system of medicines. Let us know why it is so with calamus essential oil benefits.
Calamus essential oil comprises beta asarone, eugenol, calamusenone, camphene, alpha calacorene, and beta gurjunene compounds that impart various wellness properties.
Calamus Essential Oil Benefits
- It possesses anti-rheumatic and anti-arthritic properties that stimulate the nerves and blood circulation. Calamus essential oil stimulates and improves blood circulation and relieves pain and swelling in rheumatism, arthritis, and gout.
- It displays antispasmodic activity and relaxes spasms, nervous afflictions, and disturbances.
- It helps treat inflammation, flatulence, and loss of appetite besides gastrointestinal ulcers. Its intake prevents and treats internal infections in organs and dermal infections.
- Calamus oil helps cure neurotic disorders and promotes positive thoughts. Calamus oil helps repair the harm done to neurons and brain tissues.
- It improves metabolism and helps reach nutrients and oxygen in every corner of the body.
- Moderate intake of the calamus essential oil promotes sound sleep and works as an effective tranquilizer.
How do Ayurvedic Practitioners Administer the Calamus Essential Oil?
Ayurvedic practitioners prescribe herbal formulations containing calamus essential oil for regular intake and topical application. They prepare ayurvedic medications such as Kashayam, Choornam, Ghritam, and Tailum as per directions in Sahasrayoga. They suggest mixing this oil in massage blends to reduce pain and water dilution of calamus oil for stomach ulcers. Ayurvedic practitioners administer calamus herb to treat neuralgia, painful periods, memory loss, gingivitis, painful periods, deafness, sinusitis, lack of stamina, and lymphatic drainage. They employ it for memory loss due to trauma, aging, or other reason.
Other Uses
Many users prefer calamus oil for its fragrance and blend it with natural essential oils such as mace essential oil and myrtle essential oil for body perfumes and diffuser blends.
Precautions
Calamus essential oil manufacturers advise using this oil in moderation and under the guidance of a physician or ayurvedic practitioner. It contains toxic asorone compounds whose excess may cause convulsions and hallucinations. Further, its unregulated long-term use may induce the growth of cancerous cells.
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