Sweet flag root oil. Obtained by steam distillation of the roots. Yellow to pale brown viscous oil with warm woody and spicy odour.
Main Components: acorenone, gurjunene, isoshyobunone, beta-asarone. Note: Acorus calamus var. americanus has no beta-asarone, European A. calamus var. calamus contains around 5%, and Asian A. calamus var. angustatus contains 80-96% of this carcinogenic component.
Actions*: anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic (due to beta-asarone), antibacterial, memory boosting, nervine, stimulant, and tranquilizing.
Applications*: chronic dyspepsia, gastric ulcers, anorexia, fragrancing.
Safety data: toxic if beta-asarone is present.