Saturday, July 19, 2025

Jerangau (Acorus calamus)

 


Jerangau (Acorus calamus): A Cross-Cultural Medicinal Rhizome in Southeast Asian and Chinese Medicine

Introduction

Jerangau (Acorus calamus), known in various regions by names such as Sweet Flag, Calamus, or Chang Pu (in Traditional Chinese Medicine), is a highly aromatic medicinal plant used across Asia for both internal and external remedies. It thrives in marshy areas and has long been employed in Malay, Indian (Ayurveda), Javanese, and Chinese medical systems.

1. Scientific Classification

  • Scientific Name: Acorus calamus L.

  • Common Names: Jerangau (Malay), Calamus root (English), Chang Pu (Chinese), Jeringau (Indonesia), Sweet Flag

  • Family: Acoraceae

  • Plant Part Used: Rhizome (main), leaves occasionally

  • Habitat: Wetlands, riverbanks, marshes; native to Asia and Europe

2. Etiology (Cultural and Traditional Origins)

In Malay and Javanese ethnomedicine, Jerangau is regarded as a "warming" herb that is spiritually protective, used in rituals, herbal baths, and massages. It is also linked to mental clarity and is believed to:

  • Strengthen the mind

  • Ward off evil or negative spiritual influences

  • Treat digestive and respiratory issues

  • Restore body energy, especially for women after childbirth (Yusoff et al., 2017)

In ancient Malay healing, Jerangau is burned or brewed in water for cleansing rituals.

3. TCM View (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

In TCM, Acorus calamus is referred to as Chang Pu (菖蒲). It is a well-established herb in the TCM pharmacopeia.

  • Properties: Acrid, slightly bitter, warm

  • Meridians Entered: Heart, Stomach

  • Functions:

    • Opens the orifices, awakens the spirit

    • Transforms dampness and harmonizes the middle jiao

    • Calms the mind and improves memory

    • Clears phlegm and benefits the throat

    • Promotes blood circulation (Chen et al., 2015)

  • Common Indications:

    • Insomnia with excessive phlegm

    • Poor memory, dizziness, tinnitus

    • Stroke recovery (as part of phlegm-transforming formulas)

    • Loss of consciousness due to heat or damp phlegm obstruction

4. Javanese View (Jamu Perspective)

In Jamu (Javanese traditional medicine), Jerangau (called Jeringau) is considered a multipurpose tonic. It is:

  • Added to postpartum herbal baths

  • Used in compresses to relieve abdominal swelling and bloat

  • Mixed with rice paste for children with delayed speech or seizures

  • Burned as incense to “clear the energy” of a space

Javanese healers often use Jerangau to "strengthen nerves" and enhance alertness, particularly in children and elders (Sujarwo et al., 2016).

5. Phytochemical Components

Acorus calamus is rich in essential oils, sesquiterpenes, and phenylpropanoids.

Key Constituents:

  • β-Asarone (major constituent in Asian species; potentially carcinogenic in high doses)

  • α-Asarone

  • Eugenol

  • Methyl isoeugenol

  • Acorin (glycoside)

  • Caryophyllene

  • Monoterpenes (linalool, camphene)

Note: Some varieties (like the European diploid variety) contain no β-asarone and are safer for internal use (Fujii et al., 2014).

6. Traditional and Modern Uses

Traditional Uses

  • Digestive aid: Treats bloating, flatulence, and loss of appetite

  • Cognitive enhancer: Used for memory loss, seizures, and mental fog

  • Aromatherapy: As incense or topical oil for calming effects

  • Postnatal care: Combined with turmeric and ginger for baths

  • Spiritual rituals: Burned in cleansing ceremonies

Modern Applications

  • Neuroprotective agent: Being studied for use in Alzheimer's disease and dementia

  • Anticonvulsant: Used traditionally and supported by animal studies

  • Antibacterial and antifungal: Effective against skin infections

  • Essential oils: Used in perfumery and topical herbal applications

  • Anti-inflammatory: Potential for treating arthritis and neuralgia (Singh et al., 2017)

7. Ongoing and Recent Research

a. Neurological Effects

Studies show A. calamus may enhance cognition and protect against neurodegeneration. Its asarone content helps modulate neurotransmitter levels (Gupta & Tandon, 2014).

b. Anticonvulsant Activity

Animal studies support traditional use for epilepsy and seizures (Saraswat et al., 2018).

c. Antimicrobial Properties

Effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bhuvaneswari et al., 2013).

d. β-Asarone Toxicity

β-Asarone is hepatotoxic and potentially carcinogenic in high doses, especially in uncontrolled ingestion. Modern pharmacology advises caution or uses asarone-free extracts for internal consumption (EMA, 2007).

e. Memory Enhancement

In rodent models, aqueous extract of A. calamus improves learning and reduces scopolamine-induced amnesia (Patel et al., 2020).

8. Summary Table

CategoryDetails
Scientific NameAcorus calamus L.
TCM NameChang Pu (菖蒲)
Malay NameJerangau
Jamu ViewWarming herb, nerve tonic, postpartum use
Phytochemicalsβ-Asarone, α-Asarone, eugenol, acorin
FunctionsOpens orifices, expels phlegm, improves memory
UsesMemory aid, digestive issues, postpartum, incense
Warningsβ-Asarone toxicity in large or prolonged doses

Conclusion

Jerangau (Acorus calamus) bridges spiritual, cognitive, and physical healing across cultures—from Malay and Javanese traditions to TCM and modern neuropharmacology. While its therapeutic potential is vast, care must be taken due to the toxicity of β-asarone found in certain plant varieties. Nevertheless, Jerangau remains a versatile and culturally important herb with promise in integrative medicine, particularly for cognitive and digestive health.

References data was compile by Chat GPT

Bhuvaneswari, K., Arunkumar, S., & Raja, K. (2013). Antibacterial activity of Acorus calamus rhizome extract against pathogenic bacteria. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, 4(2), 982–987.

Chen, J., Wang, L., & Huang, X. (2015). Chinese Materia Medica: Herbal pharmacology and therapeutics. Shanghai TCM Press.

European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2007). Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing asarone. Retrieved from https://www.ema.europa.eu

Fujii, S., Saito, M., & Ueno, M. (2014). Chemotypic variations and toxicity of Acorus calamus. Journal of Natural Medicines, 68(1), 153–159.

Gupta, M., & Tandon, N. (2014). Cognitive and neuroprotective effects of Acorus calamus: A review. International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 8(1), 1–5.

Patel, R., Shah, B., & Gandhi, T. (2020). Evaluation of cognitive enhancing activity of Acorus calamus rhizome extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 252, 112549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.112549

Saraswat, D., Sinha, M., & Prakash, A. (2018). Anti-epileptic potential of Acorus calamus in experimental models. Annals of Neurosciences, 25(2), 86–92.

Singh, R., Meena, H., & Sharma, R. K. (2017). Phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory potential of Acorus calamus essential oil. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 10(3), 89–93.

Sujarwo, E., Caneva, G., & Mariani, C. (2016). Ethnobotanical uses of Zingiberaceae among Balinese and Javanese communities. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 12, 9.

Yusoff, W. M. W., Ismail, S., & Abdullah, N. (2017). Postpartum herbs among Malay women: Traditional uses and cultural beliefs. Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 11(2), 45–51.

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