calamus

[Guest guest]

Todd and all,

 

I have been using the American species Acorus calamus as shi chuan pu for many

years and wholeheartedly agree with the idea that the substitution can be made

and should be made. Although I have no recollection to ever seeing anything in

the Western literature to would illustrate the use as we see it in Chinese

medicine, e.g. " to open the orifices " , one whiff of the good stuff will wash any

doubt you may have away.

 

It can be purchased through any of the Western herb whole-salers. I primarily

use Pacific Botanicals in Oregon, though they sometimes don't have what I want

they have the best quality. This is an abundant herb in the North-central and

North-eastern part of the country and is easy to cultivate. Further, it was a

significant and valuable medicinal to the Native Americans and was traded enough

to make it to most parts of North America.

 

 

Professor of Chinese Internal Medicine

World Medicine Institute (formally Tai Hsuan College of Acupuncture and Chinese

Herbology)

Honolulu, HI