Evidence supporting the use of: Calamus
For the health condition: Cough (dry)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Calamus (Acorus calamus), also known as sweet flag, has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. In these traditions, calamus rhizome is often recommended for respiratory ailments, including dry cough, due to its purported expectorant and demulcent properties. Ayurvedic texts reference its use to soothe the throat, ease coughing, and clear respiratory passages, sometimes as part of polyherbal formulations. Traditional uses are based on empirical observations rather than rigorous scientific studies.

However, scientific evidence supporting the use of calamus for dry cough is limited. Few pharmacological studies have directly evaluated its effects on cough, and those that exist are generally preclinical or focus on related actions such as anti-inflammatory or antispasmodic properties. No high-quality clinical trials specifically confirm its efficacy for dry cough in humans. Therefore, while calamus is traditionally used to support or treat dry cough, this use lacks robust scientific validation.

Given the absence of strong clinical evidence and potential safety concerns (such as the presence of β-asarone, a compound found in some calamus varieties that has shown toxicity in animal studies), calamus should be used with caution and primarily within the context of traditional practices.

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