Pinyin: Shuichangpu
Aliases
Changpu, Pujian, Choupu
Source
Plant of the Araceae family, Acorus calamusAcorus calamusL. dried rhizome.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb. Rhizome creeping, slightly flattened, branched, diameter 5-10 mm, outer bark yellow-brown, aromatic. Fleshy roots numerous, 5-6 cm long, with hair-like fibrous roots. Leaves basal, membranous at base on both sides, leaf sheath 4-5 mm wide, gradually narrowing upward; leaf blade sword-shaped-linear, 90-150 cm long, 1-3 cm wide in the middle, wider at base, folded, gradually narrowing above the middle, herbaceous, green, glossy, midrib prominently raised on both surfaces, lateral veins 3-5 pairs, parallel, slender, mostly extending to leaf tip. Inflorescence stalk triangular, 15-50 cm long; leaf-like spathe sword-shaped-linear, 30-40 cm long; spadix obliquely ascending or nearly erect, narrow-conical-cylindrical, 4.5-8 cm long, 6-12 mm in diameter. Flowers yellow-green; tepals about 2.5 mm long, about 1 mm wide; filaments about 2.5 mm long, about 1 mm wide; ovary long-cylindrical, about 3 mm long, 1.25 mm thick. Berry oblong, red. Flowering period February to September.
Habitat and Distribution
It grows in waterside areas, swamps, wetlands, or floating islands of lakes below an altitude of 2600 m, and is also cultivated. It is distributed throughout the country.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvesting can begin 2 years after planting
Medicinal Properties
The rhizome is compressed-cylindrical, rarely branched; 10-24 cm long, 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Surface off-white to brownish-red, with fine longitudinal striations; internodes 0.2-1.5 cm long, with relatively large triangular leaf scars on the upper side and sunken punctate root scars on the lower side, with brown fibrous remnants at the nodes. Texture hard, fracture spongy, off-white or pale brown; transverse section shows a distinct endodermal ring, with numerous small cavities and vascular bundle dots; odor relatively strong and distinctive, taste bitter and acrid. The best quality is characterized by a thick rhizome, yellow-white surface, and free of scale leaves and fibrous roots.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains methylisoeugenol, acoragermacrone, linalool, camphor, and others.
Pharmacology
Lowers body temperature, enhances barbiturate-induced hypnosis, and has a certain anticonvulsant effect; has a regulatory effect on the cardiovascular system; relieves asthma, suppresses cough, and expels phlegm; has a spasmolytic effect on smooth muscle; antibacterial.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, bitter, and warm. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Stomach channels.
Functions and Indications
Transform phlegm, open the orifices, eliminate dampness, strengthen the stomach, kill parasites, and relieve itching. Indicated for coma due to phlegm syncope, wind-stroke, epilepsy, palpitations with forgetfulness, tinnitus and deafness, food accumulation with abdominal pain, dysentery and diarrhea, wind-damp pain, eczema, and scabies.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoct in water, 3-6 g; or prepared into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, decoct for washing or grind into powder for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Patients with Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity, excessive sweating, or seminal emission should use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For chronic gastritis and loss of appetite: Acorus calamus and Taraxacum mongolicum 9 g each, Citri reticulatae pericarpium and Alpiniae katsumadai semen 6 g each. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Inner Mongolia Chinese Herbal Medicine) 2. For stomach pain: Fresh Acorus calamus rhizome 6-9 g. Decoct in water and mix with white sugar for oral administration. (Jiangxi Herbal Manual) 3. For abdominal distension and indigestion: Acorus calamus, Raphani semen (stir-fried), and Massa medicata fermentata 9 g each, Cyperi rhizoma 12 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Shandong Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) 4. For chronic bronchitis: Fill capsules with Acorus calamus rhizome powder, 0.3 g per capsule. Take 2 capsules with warm water, 2-3 times daily, with 10 consecutive days as a course of treatment. (Zhejiang Medicinal Plants Journal) 5. For edema: Fresh Acorus calamus rhizome 6-9 g and soybean 60 g. Boil in water and take orally. (Jiangxi Herbal Manual)
