This product is the rhizome of the perennial herb Acorus (Acorus tatarinowii Schott.) from the Arisaema family, distributed in various provinces south of the Yangtze River in China, mainly produced in Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and other regions. It is harvested in autumn and winter, with leaves, fibrous roots, and soil removed, then dried or used fresh.

Ancient literature refers to Acorus as "one inch with nine nodes is best," hence this product is also known as irkutsk anemone rhizome. However, the irkutsk anemone rhizome used in modern times is the rhizome of the perennial herb Anemone altaica (Anemone altaica Fisch.) from the Japanese buttercup herb family, and should not be confused with Acorus.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, warm. Act on heart and stomach meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Resuscitation calms the spirit, resolving dampness harmonizes the stomach.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for phlegm-dampness obstructing the seven orifices, leading to unconsciousness. This product is pungent, bitter, drying, and warm, with a fragrant and penetrating nature. It not only has the effects of resuscitation, tranquilizing the mind, and calming the spirit, but also possesses the abilities to resolve dampness, expel phlegm, and dispel filth. It excels in opening the heart orifices, removing dampness turbidity, and awakening the spirit. Therefore, it is suitable for treating mental confusion caused by phlegm-dampness and filthy turbidity obstructing the seven orifices. For treating phlegm-heat obstruction with high fever, unconsciousness, and delirious speech, it is often combined with Curcuma Root, Pinellia, Bamboo Juice, and other medicinal combinations, such as Acorus Curcuma Root Decoction. It is also used to treat phlegm-heat epilepsy and convulsions, often combined with Immature Orange Fruit, Bamboo Shavings, Coptis Rhizome, and other medicinal combinations, such as Clearing Heart Gallbladder-Warming Decoction. For treating dampness turbidity obstruction with symptoms like dizziness, somnolence, forgetfulness, tinnitus, and deafness, it is often combined with Poria, Milkwort Root, Fossil Bone, and other medicinal combinations, such as Spirit-Tranquillizing Mind-Stabilizing Pill. In recent years, α-Asarum ether extracted from Acorus has been effective in treating epilepsy and status epilepticus.
2. Used for dampness obstruction in the middle energizer, causing abdominal distension, fullness, stuffiness, and pain. This product is pungent and fragrant, resolving dampness turbidity, awakening the spleen, opening the stomach, and promoting digestion to relieve distension. For treating dampness turbidity obstruction in the middle energizer with abdominal distension and fullness, it is often combined with Villous Amomum Fruit, Atractylodes Rhizome, Magnolia Bark, and other dampness-resolving and qi-moving medicinals. For treating severe dampness-heat toxicity with dysentery, tenesmus, and food-denial dysentery, it is combined with Coptis Rhizome, Lotus Fruit, Poria, and other medicinal combinations, such as Closed-Mouth Opening Powder.
3. Additionally, it can also be used for hoarseness, wind-dampness arthralgia, Yongju scabies, and traumatic injuries.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Mainly treats wind-cold-dampness impediment, cough with dyspnea, opens the heart orifice, tonifies the five zang-organs, unblocks the nine orifices, brightens the eyes and ears, and produces sound. Long-term use lightens the body, enhances memory, prevents confusion, and prolongs life."
2. Bencao Gangmu: "Treats sudden death from noxious factors, infantile fright epilepsy, menorrhagia, calms fetus fistula disease, and disperses abscesses and swellings."
3. Bencao Congxin: "Pungent, bitter, and warm, aromatic and dispersing, opens the heart orifice, benefits the nine orifices, brightens the eyes and ears, produces sound, removes dampness and dispels wind, expels phlegm and dissipates accumulation, opens the stomach and relaxes the middle, treats locked-jaw toxic dysentery."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-10g. Double the amount for fresh products. Apply an appropriate amount externally.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains 0.11-0.42% volatile oil, primarily composed of β-Asarum ether, α-Asarum ether, and Asarum ether, along with amino acids, organic acids, and sugars. Acorus decocted with water, volatile oil, or Asarum ether and β-Asarum ether all have sedative effects; the decoction has anticonvulsant effects; it exhibits strong antispasmodic effects on isolated guinea pig trachea and ileum. The decoction can promote the secretion of digestive juices and inhibit abnormal fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract. High-concentration extracts have inhibitory effects on common pathogenic skin fungi.