Introduction

Angelica is the European cousin of the more familiar dong-quai. A graceful flowering plant related to carrots, dill, and fennel, angelica is found as far north as Nunavut and Lapland and as far south as Syria and South Carolina. The plant has an intense yet sweet aroma more like carrots than like dill or fennel.

Constituents

Psoralens, bergapten, beta-sitosterol, coumarins, limonene, umbelliferone.

Parts Used

Dried root

Typical Preparations

As a tea, in capsules and as an herbal extract.

Summary

The traditional uses of angelica included treating tumors, boils, and furuncles, relieving swollen gums, and forcing vomiting to treat food poisoning. Research published as recently as February 2005 confirm that angelica contains compounds that may prevent the proliferation of tumor cells, at least under laboratory conditions.
Modern herbalists most often use this form of angelica to relieve loss of appetite, flatulence, and gastrointestinal spasms, and to treat the pain of hacking cough, menstrual cramps. and urinary tract infections. Angelica has a long folk-history of use as a medicinal herb, in particular for the treatment of digestive disorders and problems with blood circulation.

Precautions

Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight if using angelica oil. Do not take angelica and eat celeriac (celery root) as a vegetable if you tend to sunburn. The safety of angelica for pregnant women and nursing mothers has not been established and its use is not recommended.