Sweet flag, sweet sedge, or 'Ogon', is in the traditional Chinese medicine garden because the bitter drug is used in the drug chang-pu. The root has long been used as an aromatic bitter to tone and settle the stomach and relieve indigestion, gas, and heartburn. The root is considered stimulant, carminative, spasmolytic, tonic, bitter, and aromatic. In India, the root is used for insecticide, anthelminthic, diarrhea, dysentery, and bronchial disease. In India and Egypt, it was used as an aphrodisiac. The root oil is strongly antibacterial. References: Grieve, M. (Maud). A Modern Herbal; the Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folk-Lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs, & Trees with All Their Modern Scientific Uses. New York :Harcourt, Brace & company, 1931. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31