Angelica ~ Angelica archangelica

Angelica

Latin name: Angelica archangelica

Family: Umbelliferae

Part used: root (mainly), seeds, leaves

Habitat: Common garden plant in Britain; grows wild in many European countries

Main constituents: volatile oil (root and seeds), coumarins (seeds), furanocoumarins (root and seed), bitters, resins, tannins, angelic acids (root)

Energetics: bitter, aromatic, sweet, warming, stimulating

Main herbal actions: expectorant, diaphoretic, carminative, diuretic

Minor herbal actions: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antiseptic, stimulates gastric and pancreatic secretions

Main medicinal uses: cough, cold, indigestion

Minor medicinal uses: colic with gas and eructation

Preparations: powdered root: 0.5-2 g; root tincture: 2-4 ml; root infusion: 1 tsp/cup water (note possible discrepancies for doses of different preparations)

Contraindications: concurrent use of UV-A light (may cause phototoxicity, increased risk of carcinogenesis and photodermatoses); blood thinning agent use; pregnancy

Toxicity: unknown

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Class notes from slide 88 – 89 – October 24th, 2012

Angelica is a European Plant.  There are many poisonous plants in this family, including Hemlock, which killed Socrates.

Slide 89 shows a map

Warming digestive & Warming Respitory.  Has an affinity for the torso.

Used as an expectorant – European root tincture

Tastes like anise.  Stem tastes like celery.