Rasa (Taste)
Tikta , Katu
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Vacha (Sweet flag)
Perennial terrestrial herb of marshy places.
Medicinal Plant
Vacha (Sweet flag)
Acorus calamus · Araceae
Perennial terrestrial herb of marshy places.
Scientific Name
Acorus calamus
Family
Araceae
Hindi Name
Bach, Ghorbach, Safed bach
Used Part
Rhizome
Botanical Description
About the Vacha Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
Perennial terrestrial herb of marshy places. Stem - Stout, creeping. Rhizome - aromatic Leaves - Sword shaped, erect, shar pointed, sheathing each other, midrib is stout parallel venation Inflorescence - Spadix. Flower - Densely cover the entire spadix, greenish yellow, Fruit - Turbinate, prismatic, pyramidal. Perennial terrestrial herb of marshy place. Stem - Stout, creeping Rhizome - aromatic Leaves - Sword shaped, erect, shar pointed, sheathing each other, midrib is stout parallel venation. Inflorescence - Spadix Flower - Densely cover the entire spadix.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Laghu, Tikshna
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Kapha Vatahara
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Ushna
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Lekhaniya, Medhya , Unmadahara, Apasmarahara, Jwarahara
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Vermifuge, Carminative, Sedative, Tranquilizer
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Alpha-asarone, Calamol, Camphone, Isoshyobunone, Acoramone.
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Vacha
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
Vishama jwara - Vacha, pippali powder with rock sugar and honey is beneficial in intermittent fever.
02
Arsha - Roasted vacha, bhanga and ajwain seeds emission are beneficial in hemorrhoids.
03
Vamaka - For bio-purification powder of Vacha is beneficial as vomiting inducer.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Vacha is a key ingredient.
- Vachadi ghrita, Vachadi churna, Vacha avaleha, Balachaturbhadra churna
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
वचाग्रन्थ्या कटुका तिकोष्णा वाग्मितावहिता । विबन्धामानशूलघ्नी शुक्रमूत्रविशोधिनी । अपस्मारकफोन्मादभूतग्रहोद्वेगनाशिनी ॥