(editor's note: Sweet Flag [also known as calamus] is an antispasmotic used to treat gas, bloating, toothaches and joint pain. While there are four different species, only the americanus variety is safe to use.
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Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus var. americanus)
Looking like an iris, the sweet flag is actually related to the calla lily. With a smell like cinnamon and a taste like nutmeg, it was even produced commercially as a fragrance at one time. It is an aquatic plant found in wild meadows and marshes.
The rhizomes - roots - are harvested and dried for medicinal use. The plant contains a volatile oil believed to be responsible for the herb's potent antispasmodic properties. Becuase sweet flag can also promote circulation, contemporary herbalists prescribe it as a topical liniment for aching muscles and stiff joints. NOTE: not to be used during pregnancy.
Tea:
For indigestion or poor appetite, steep 1 tsp. of the dried, chopped herb in 1 cup of cold water for 8-10 hours then strain. You can drink 1/4 cup of the tea 20-30 minutes before meals for 5 days. Take 3 days off and repeat the cycle if needed.
Powder:
For stomach aches or gas, use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder to grind dried sweet flag into a powder. To use, stir 1/8 tsp. of the powder into 1/4 cup of water. Drink up to 3 times daily before meals. Drink for 5 days in a row, then abstain for 3 days.
Liniment:
For muscle aches and joint pin, mix 1/4 cup of dried sweet flag and 1/4 cup of crushed juniper berries in 1 quart of pure grain alcohol. Filter after 10 days and store in a glass bottle. Apply undiluted to sore spots up to 3 times daily.
Bath:
For fatigue, boil 1/4 cup of the dried, peeled herb in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes. Steep for another 10 minutes then strain. Add to a lukewarm bath for a 15 minute soak.
