Tag: Acorus calamus

With a history of use dating back centuries in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, sweet flag (Acorus calamus) offers unique culinary and aromatic properties. However, consuming sweet flag requires careful attention to safety due to potential toxicity in certain varieties, making proper identification and preparation crucial.

While calamus root has a long and complex history in traditional medicine, the U.S. FDA banned its use as a food additive in 1968 due to concerns over a carcinogenic compound found in some varieties. This raises a critical question for foragers and herbal enthusiasts: **is the root of the calamus edible**?