Alternative and complementary medicines have gained an increase in popularity in the recent years. In various countries, a large number of individuals are adapting these medicines to complement conventional allopathic medicines. These complementary medicines include Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Unani and other traditional medicinal practices. Medicinal plants are being used from times immemorial to treat various diseases. Active principle compounds have been isolated and characterized from these plants. An ethno-pharmacological based method has provided new potentials of identifying new drugs from plants related to many disorders. A large number of drugs currently available in allopathic medicine were originally isolated from plants, or have originated from compounds isolated from plants. Phyto-chemical studies help to understand the applications of medicinal plants. An attempt has been made in this review to understand the applications of an Indian medicinal and aromatic plant Acorus calamus L., [sweet flag]. The rhizome, roots and leaves of the plant have been used for insecticidal, antifungal, antibacterial and allellopathic properties.