The medicinal properties of Acorus Gramineus, or known as sweet flag or Shi Chang Pu in Pinyin, have amazed the herbalists since a long time ago. Li Bai and Meng Jiao, two famous poets in Tang Dynasty, ever wrote poems to praise its extensive medicinal uses, in particular in prolonging life and staying young. Of course, it is kind of an exaggerated view but medicinally taking this herb can indeed improve eyesight, sharpen the ears, prevent forgetfulness, get rid of chest tightness and uncomfortable fullness, eliminate dampness, and relieve internal heat. In addition, many Chinese medicine shops love to grow it inside. By doing so there are two good reasons – it can both serve as bonsai for ornamental purpose and fresh herb by taking its rhizome for medicinal purpose.

Medicinally it mainly refers to the dried rhizome and root of Acorus tatarinowii Schott. This is a plant in the family Araceae and an Asian relative of Acorus Calamus (Sweet Flag). Other common names of it include Grassleaf Sweelflag Rhizome, Dwarf sedge, Drug Sweetflag Rhizome, Japanese rush, Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, Japanese sweet flag, Acorus gramineus rhizome, Rhizome of Grassleaf Sweelflag, and so on. In China it is mainly produced in the south of the Yangtze River, such as Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu. Its rhizomes are generally dug up in autumn and winter. And then the fibrous roots must be removed before it is dried in the sun. And it is usually used raw medicinally.

Acorus gramineus plant is a graminoid perennial herb and with odorous rhizome. Leaves are arranged into two rows and with entire margin. Spadix is with green stalk and bract-like spathe. Acorus gramineus root is often used as medicine. It is distributed in Asia, including northeastern India, northern Thailand, China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries. Main habitat is jungles at an altitude of 20 meters to 2,600 meters. Flowering time is from May to June and fruit period is from July to August.

Acorus Gramineus

ACORUS GRAMINEUS BENEFITS
More than just a sedative medicine for the treatment of insomnia, in recent years acorus gramineus grass is used in a wide range of applications. Here are its top 5 health benefits.

1) Preferred sedative hypnotic drug that treats chronic sleeplessness. Thanks to its inhibition of certain central nervous system, it is not only sedative and hypnotic, but also aromatic and expectorant. That’s to say, it has a good effect on Insomnia disorder caused by the interference of phlegm-heat. What's more, it also has sedative and hypnotic effects for the mentally ill;

2) Joint pain relief by managing Qi and activating blood. It is of acrid nature and good at activating blood and managing Qi. Therefore, it treats blockage due to wind-damp, joint pain, and bruises. Clinically it is applied directly to the wound (topical) along with fresh ginger and gardenia in order to reduce swelling and pain;

3) Remedy of dampness obstructing spleen-stomach syndrome by arousing spleen and harmonizing stomach. Since the aromatic volatile oil contained can promote the secretion of digestive juice and inhibit the gastrointestinal abnormal fermentation, it arouses spleen and helps the transportation and transformation of stomach;

4) Treatment of epilepsy by eliminating phlegm for resuscitation. Since its aromatic nature can transform damp turbidity, open orifice, and dispelling phlegm-damp, it is applicable in the treatment of obnubilation, deafness, blurred vision, and mental retardation that are caused by phlegm dampness blocking and clear yang failing to ascend;

5) Disease prevention by eliminating turbid pathogen with aromatics. Thanks to its aromatic properties and the detoxicating and pathogen-expelling ability, it is often used as a common herb for the purpose of disease prevention in ancient time. No wonder ancient Chinese used to hang fresh mugwort and acorus leaves on the doors and windows in order to prevent plague.