Sweet flag is a flowering plant. It resembles cattail or or blue flag iris, but they are bright green and have green-yellow structures that grow out of it.
This plant contains anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. It may relieves digestive issues, such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and gas. There are additional studies that suggest has antioxidant, anti-obesity, antidepressant, and cardioprotective effects. It has been used in Ayurveda medicine and is used for rejuvenating the brain and nervous system. It has been shown the heating method used helps to decrease the asarone in the sweet flag.
Sweet flag has been banned in the United States since 1968 due to it containing compounds considered to be carcinogenic. It’s not to be used in food, as an additive, or in drinks. While studies have been done to show the compound, asarone, has been found to be toxic, there isn’t enough noticeable data on the toxicity of calamus (sweet flag).
