According to legend, Angelica was revealed by the Archangel Michael to a fourteenth-century monk as a plant that could help ward off the plague. This legend inspired the botanical name of the plant, Angelica archangelica. Angelica has been celebrated for centuries for its many uses.
Angelica is a pleasantly aromatic herb that stands out from most other members of the Apiaaceae (or umbellifers) family to which it belongs. The scent is very different from that of other members of the plant family. This includes fennel, anise, caraway, parsley and chervil. This plant family also includes Osha, or bear root, which also has a very pleasant and distinct aroma.
The unique essential oils of angelica are used to make perfume and fragrant liqueurs and also make it an effective respiratory and digestive aid. These powerful essential oils are also why angelica is used to make digestive bitters, as well as as a flavoring for liqueurs such as Benedictine, Vermouth, Dubonnet and Chartreuse. Angelica is also used in the distillation of gin and absinthe. The stems are candied for culinary purposes and the leaves are used to flavor fish, poultry, soups and stews.
Angelica archangelica is commonly known as A. officinalis. Common names for A. archangelica include angelica, garden angelica, wild celery, archangel, European angelica and Norwegian angelica. It is a biennial herb that can grow up to six feet tall, with large bright green leaves and greenish-white umbel flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s lace. It prefers moist soil near running water. Leaves and stems are harvested in early summer and the seeds can be harvested in late summer after they have ripened. For maximum potency, roots should be harvested in late fall after the first year. The aerial parts and roots can be used fresh or dried, while the seeds are best used dried.
Sustainable harvest and cultivation
Angelica herb can be used in a sustainable way because it is quite easy to grow. It has not been hybridized in such a way that its potency is reduced. It grows wild in the northern parts of Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Himalayas, Siberia and the Faroe Islands.
Angelica species around the world
Did you know there are more than 50? Angelica species worldwide?! Although this blog focuses on Angelica archangelicathere are several others Angelica spp. worth mentioning. Angelica sinensisalso known as dong quai or dang qui, is a popular herb in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily used to nourish the blood and support a healthy menstrual cycle.
In Medicinal plants of the mountain westMichael Moore talks about seven different natives Angelica spp. (A. hendersonii, A. pinnata, A. arguta to name a few) that are typically found at higher elevations in the western United States. Many herbalists report that these species can be used in a similar way A. archangelica. Mathew Wood uses A. atropupureaor American angelica, which he says can be found in the eastern forest region of the US, into Canada and into the western Rocky Mountains. Stephen Buhner mentions that there are more than 18 American Indian tribes that use the various species of angelica that are native to the US. The Creek tribe chewed the root and swallowed the juice or smoked the leaves for digestive problems.
Be careful when harvesting wild animals
If you choose to harvest Angelica spp. you should do this with extreme caution as they are related to, and may resemble, the deadly poison hemlock and water hemlock.
History and folklore
Angelica is an important herb in Celtic tradition, especially during the time of Imbolc. It is believed that spreading the leaves can purify an area. Adding the leaves to incense is said to promote healing.
In ancient times it was considered a ‘traveling medicine’ because of its ability to relax and open the mind. Throughout the world, angelica was said to be worn as protection against bad energies and infectious diseases. It is said to represent vision, wisdom, enlightenment and balance.
A. archangelica has been cultivated since the tenth century and became popular in the twelfth century among the Scandinavian Saami people, who consider it a sacred herb. The British Flora Medica from 1877 mentions that Laplanders regard angelica as a very important herb and use it mainly as a digestive aid.
Tonic for digestion, breathing and circulation
Angelica has many medicinal properties. It is a warming tonic that is useful for supporting healthy digestive and respiratory function, and for encouraging healthy circulation throughout the body. The leaf, root, stem and seeds are all used for these purposes, but the root is the most commonly used part of the plant. The root and seeds are the most aromatic parts of the plant and contain a greater amount of volatile oils responsible for its effectiveness in digestion, respiration and circulation.
Respiratory tonic
Angelica stimulates the airways and helps to warm, strengthen and purify the lungs. It also helps establish a healthy inflammatory response in the respiratory system. You can find dried angelica in many drugstores, and it is commonly found in breathing formulas, such as WishGarden’s Deep Lung.
Circulatory tonic and women’s health
Many herbalists use it A. archangelica to similarly support healthy menstruation A. sinensisor dong quai, would be used. Although A. sinensis is more of a blood builder then A. archangelicathey both have similar blood-moving properties, which is useful for better circulation and regulation of menstruation. Angelica also helps soothe the discomfort associated with menstruation.
Immunity
Angelica is also known for its ability to induce sweating, warm the body and support overall immunity as the body overcomes seasonal insects. Drinking angelica tea is said to soothe nausea, coughing and sneezing.
Digestive tonic
As an aromatic, bitter stimulant, angelica is useful for supporting healthy digestive secretions and soothing gas and bloating. Bitters made with angelica root can be taken before meals. Angelica preparations can also help improve appetite. It is common to find angelica in many herbal bitters found at health food markets and liquor stores.
You can also make your own bitters! It’s very simple: check out the recipe below. And they make a great gift!
Cacao Chai Bitters Digestive Tonic
Ingredients:
- 5 cardamom pods
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger root
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 5 star anise pods
- 1/2 teaspoon cassia chips
- 5 cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 chopped vanilla bean
- 1/4 teaspoon angelica
- 1/4 teaspoon burdock root
- 1/2 teaspoon cacao nibs
- 2 cups high-proof dark rum or bourbon
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients except strong alcohol in a quart mason jar.
- Pour in 2 cups of dark rum or bourbon, adding more if necessary to cover all the ingredients.
- Place the lid on the jar and store it for 2-4 weeks at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, shaking daily.
- Strain into a clean jar through a coffee filter-lined funnel.
- You can then bottle the liquid in a colored glass bottle. Bitters can last indefinitely, but are best if used within a year.
Enjoy!
WishGarden Herbs’ formulas with Angelica Root:
Angelica single tincture and deep lung and bronchial support
References
- The practice of traditional western herbal medicine by Mathew Wood
- Medicinal plants of the mountain west by Michael Moore
- A Druidic Herb for the Year of the Sacred Earth by Ellen Evert Hopman
- Herbal vademecum by Gazmend Skenderi
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier
- Herbal medicine from the heart of the earth by Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner
- Making plant medicine by Richo Cech
- Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra
- Sacred plant medicine by Stephen Harrod Buhner
- Angelica archangelica
- Uses of the angelica plant
- Angelica
Writer Amy Malek, CCN, CCH, INHC is a certified clinical nutritionist, certified clinical herbalist, integrative nutritional health coach, and flower essence practitioner. She discovered her love of plants in the Sonoran Desert while living in Tucson, Arizona. She has been studying plants from the mountains in the west and southwest for ten years. Her many teachers include Paul Bergner, Rosemary Gladstar, Dr. Aviva Romm, Lisa Ganora, Kat MacKinnon, Erin Smith, John Slattery and Charles Kane. Her career is divided between Holistic Health, Graphic/Web Design and Marketing/Social Media Consulting. She is currently the Social Media Coordinator of WishGarden. She lives in Boulder County, CO. She enjoys wild crafting and growing her own medicinal plants and making a variety of herbal medicines. You can find more information about her practice on her website, www.wholeheart-wellness.com.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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