Evidence supporting the use of: Calamus rhizome
For the health condition: Sore Throat

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Synopsis

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

Calamus rhizome (Acorus calamus), also known as sweet flag, has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and various European folk traditions. It has been employed to treat a variety of ailments, including sore throat, coughs, and other respiratory issues. The primary justification for its use in sore throat is based on its reported anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and mild analgesic properties as described in historical texts. In Ayurveda, for example, calamus is chewed or prepared as a decoction to soothe throat irritation and alleviate discomfort.

However, the scientific evidence supporting calamus rhizome’s efficacy for sore throat is limited. While some in vitro and animal studies suggest that calamus extracts may have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, there are no robust clinical trials or high-quality human studies directly assessing its effectiveness for sore throat. Furthermore, concerns about the safety of calamus, especially varieties containing the compound β-asarone (which has shown carcinogenicity in animal studies), have led to regulatory restrictions in some countries.

In summary, the use of calamus rhizome for sore throat is primarily justified by traditional and historical practices, with only minimal scientific investigation and no conclusive clinical evidence to date.

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