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 / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: 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.