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    Vach Kand / Lothi / वाच कंद / लोथी / Sweet Flag / Acorus calamus

    Local Name: Vach Kand / Lothi / वाच कंद / लोथी

    Common Name: Sweet Flag

    Botanical Name: Acorus calamus

    Status & Habitat

    • Status: Vulnerable

    • Habitat: Flowering plant

    • Occurrence: Marshy areas

    • Season of Availability: Spring or summer

    • Geography: India, central Asia, southern Russia and Siberia, Europe and North America

    • Method of Propagation: Vegetative propagation

    • Part used for Propagation: Rhizomes

    Edible Parts

    • Edible Parts: Inner stem

    • Can be Eaten Raw: The inner stems can be eaten raw.

    Method of Consumption

    • Raw: Yes, inner stems only

    • Ripe: N/A

    • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A

    • Dangerous Form to Consume: All other parts of the plant.

    • As Food: The roots can be washed, peeled, cut into small pieces, boiled, and simmered in syrup to make candy.

    • As Medicine: Make a powder from the rhizomes and roots of the plant. This can be taken in tea or honey to help with digestive issues.

    • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

    • Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

    • Pickling: N/A

    • Brining: N/A

    • Fermenting: N/A

    • Drying for later Consumption: N/A

    • Overall Method: Can be drank as a tea: slice rhizomes and let it steep in hot water, then strain.

    Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

    • Nutritional Benefit: Has numerous medicinal properties

    • Medicinal Benefit: Rhizomes are used for mental ailments, stomach issues, cold, fever, skin diseases. Roots are used for rheumatism, joint aches, urinary diseases, throat infections, piles

    Tribal Wisdom

    • Tribal Wisdom: Make a powder from the rhizomes and roots of the plant. This can be taken in tea or honey to help with digestive issues.

    Recipes

    • Tribal Recipe: Can be drank as a tea: slice rhizomes and let it steep in hot water, then strain.
      Make a decoction by heating and boiling roots and rhizomes.