Rat Root

 

Rat Root, officially known as Acorus Calamus, goes by a number of names, including Sea Sledge, Myrtle Grass, Gladdon, and Beewort. The herb is almost universal in its uses and properties, but is an abortifacient which will cause a miscarriage, and thus not suitable for pregnant women. Rat Root is a reed like perennial, and pertains a strong, bitter scent, found most prominently in the leaves. The powdered rhizomes (underground part of the stem) can easily be used as a substitute taste for ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but due to the plant's high toxicity, especially over long periods, this is certainly not a healthy option. Despite being viewed by many as a symbol of love, most herbologists view the properties of Rat Root as tools which are often used against women, considering the elements of Anodyne, and its potential use as a sedative or aphrodisiac, which increases sexual desire.

 

Due to the sweet and appealing scent of the herb, Rat Root is commonly used in floor coverings, along with various methods of healing. Rat Root can be used to treat things such as tooth or ear aches, burns or rashes, and eye diseases. As a powdered, non diluted form, it is capable of clearing a cough, and relieving strain and irritation of the throat. It can also be used to aid people who have suffered a stroke. Research completed in the seventeenth century, by herbologist Nicholas Culpeper, suggested that Rat Root empowers both the mind and the stomach, leading to the herb's use in some digestive potions. An even more common use for the herb is as a tonic, which can be used to calm people in stressful situations or events.

 

Basic Qualities of Rat Root include:

- Abortifacient                                                                                          -Sedative

-Anodyne (relives pain)                                                                      -Otalgic (cures ear aches)

-Anthelmintic                                                                                            -Laxative

-Aphrodisiac (used in some love potions)                               -Hallucinogen*

-Carminative                                                                                              -Diuretic

*Depending on use, can also be used to remove or counter the effects of Hallucinogens

 

Rat Root is a water plant (hence its dubbing as Sea Sledge) and only grows in relatively moist soil, growing best in shallow water, or by the edges or rivers or ponds. . The plant must be watered at least once every two to three days, and requires vast amounts of sunlight to grow. When planting, it is important to know that seeds are ripe in July and August, and should be planted soon after obtaining them. The root flowers in the period from May to July.