Latin: Angelica archangelica / Archangelica officinalis
Also Known As: Masterwort, Archangel, Garden Angelica, The Angel's Herb, Bellyache Root, Root Of The Holy Ghost, Herba Angelica (Angel's Plant)
Family: Apiaceae
Habitat and Description: Angelica is a biennial which grows to a height of up to 10 ft. the leaves are bright, spring green, and are large and lobed in shape, divided into smaller sections. The stem is thick and hollow, with ridges running around it. The flowers are white, grow in wide umbels and appear during July and August of its second year of growth. The root, when used in medicine, is gathered at the end of the first year, in Autumn when the energy of the plant has retreated back into the ground. The whole plant is scented. The plant grows readily in damp soil, particularly loving to grow near running water, and in shady spots, and can be propagated in the spring through seed or root division, although it is a devil to grow from seed – if you choose this method, you need to take the seeds straight off the plant and put them into soil immediately. If you store them, it's a fair bet that they will not germinate.
Parts Used: Leaf, root and seeds
Constituents: Angelica contains volatile oil (especially the root and seeds), which contains monoterpenes such as limonene. The plant also contains coumarins, especially furanocoumarin glycosides, as well as angelicin, umbelliferone, psoralen (responsible for photosensitivity in some people), bergapten, and miscellaneous sugars, plant acids, flavonoids such as archangelenone and sterols. flavonoidA chemical that gives a substance its flavour
Planetary Influence: The Sun
Star Sign: Leo
Associated Deities and Heroes: Michael, Sun Gods such as Helios, Lugh, Apollo, Freyr and Ra, and is also associated with Venus. It could by extension also be associated with Sun Goddesses, although these are fewer in number than their male counterparts. Some Sun Goddesses include Sunna / Sol and Amaterasu.
Festival: Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Summer Solstice (different authors have different opinions on the festival associated with this herb. Personally I feel that associating it with the Summer Solstice makes most sense in terms of the plant and its qualities, however I can see the logic of associating it with the Winter Solstice and Imbolc as well in terms of the pagan myth of the rebirth of the sun which occurs annually at this time of year.)
Constitution: Warm and dry. Angelica is ruled by the element of Fire (unsurprisingly, given its planetary influence!)
Spiritual and Energetic Uses: Angelica is used to allow inner balance, and embodies feminine strength and purity. The spirit of Angelica is strong and compassionate, although somewhat shy. It is the flower of inspiration, and can be used to help people who feel cut off from their inner selves, and is particularly useful during difficult phases in life or when approaching death. It could also perhaps be used for those going through the proverbial 'dark night of the soul' in order to give strength and integrity, granting the promise of sunlight to the person in order to give them the courage to endure until life improves. This herb can be used to treat emotionally empty, hollow people, especially women in their late twenties, mentioning that it stimulates the imagination and relaxes the mind. This is probably not surprising given that when the stem is cut, it is hollow in the centre despite supporting a tall, stately plant.
Actions and Indications: Angelica has a huge range of uses, predominantly warming and anti spasmodic. The root and stalk can be used to warm a cold stomach, and can be used in general for any cold, airy diseases of the body. It is a smooth muscle relaxant and carminative, as well as being expectorant, antispasmodic and a gentle digestive tonic, as well as to treat gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn, anorexia nervosa, nervous dyspepsia and to stimulate the appetite. Angelica can be used to treat digestive problems such as nausea, gastritis and ulcer (although some authors are of the opinion that it should not be used to treat gastric ulcers, possibly because this is a 'hot' disorder and may be aggravated by the use of warming herbs) as well as to treat indigestion, diarrhoea, anorexia and chronic enteritis. The plant has a bitter principle but is usually used as an aromatic tonic, and the volatile oil has carminative qualities, with similar actions to that of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). The herb is considered to be a friend of the aged, as it is a circulatory stimulant and sustains the heart, stomach and bowel. It is also used to treat stranguary and colic, and is an excellent liver herb, stimulating production of bile and improved metabolism of oils. Angelica can be used to build immunity and resistance against the plague and other epidemical diseases, and to treat infectious fevers, acute febrile diseases, typhoid fever and malaria. It is an emmenagogue,. Externally, it can be used to treat ulcers, bites, gout and sciatica. Interestingly, the coumarin content of the herb is apparently a cancer inhibitor. Angelica is an excellent circulatory tonic, and can be used to treat anaemia and peripheral vascular disease, as well as intermitten claudication, Raynaud's Disease and related circulatory disorders. It is an excellent long term circulatory tonic and can have a marked effect on the whole respiratory system. It would probably combine very well with Hawthorn for this purpose. Angelica can also be used as a respiratory tonic, in the treatment of asthma, colds, catarrh and bronchitis, as it is warming and expectorant. As a respiratory herb it can be used to treat chronic bronchial asthma and spasmodic asthma and bronchitis, and as a diaphoretic. It can be used topically to treat pleurisy and bronchitis as an anti inflammatory compress, as well as in liniments and ointments to treat rheumatism. It apparently makes an excellent cream to treat chemotherapy related radiation damage to the skin. Angelica is a diaphoretic, and is an excellent remedy to be considered when bringing down fevers. Some consider the plant to be one of the best convalescent remedies available due to its warming, strengthening properties. Angelica can be used to treat headaches, chills, aches and pains, a general dislike of the cold, myalgia and neuralgia, as well as for women's complaints such as amenorrhoea, premenstrual syndrome with problems such as irritability, depression, weepiness and joint pains, as well as being a useful urinary antiseptic.
Magical Uses:Angelica is protective against witches, evil spirits and enchantment. The leaves can be used to purify an area when scattered. They could also, following on from this usage, be used as part of a smudge stick. The plant is a protective influence when grown in the garden, perhaps paralleling Rosemary, which is also protective. It can be used to ward off evil, and when used as a bath can remove curses, hexes and negative spells. Angelica is also used in healing incenses and mixtures, and smoking the leaves apparently brings visions. The herb can be used to intuit other realities and to help the user to find inspiration.
Folklore: Unsurprisingly enough given the name of the plant, it is commonly believed that the plant was put here by assorted different angels (a fact that Culpeper (1995) makes a number of amusing and rather pithy comments about relating to the age old tradition of naming plants after various saints, angels and holy figures. In Culpeper's opinion, the physicians of his age were copying the ancient tradition but for totally the wrong reasons!) There is an old tradition of gathering the flower stems from wild plants in Eastern Europe, which are then carried back into the village and offered for sale whilst chanting an ancient song or verse in unintelligible words which are not even understood by the people singing them. This is quite possibly e a carry over from an ancient pagan custom. The words and tune of the song are learned in early childhood. There is an old legend stating that the herb was revealed as a plague cure by an angel appearing in a dream. The name is also explained by the fact that it apparently flowers on the day of Michael the archangel – May 8th – making it a herb of this particular angel, which may also explain its uses to ward off witches and evil spirits. The plant's botanical name derives from the Greek angelos, meaning 'messenger', indicating that it has been known and used since ancient times, and has a long standing reputation as being useful in the cure of pretty much everything – an impressive reputation indeed! Dose: The general opinion seems to be that the best dosage of tincture would be up to 5mls three times a day for a tincture of the leaf, and up to 3mls three times a day for a root tincture. The dried herb can be used in doses of 5g infused in a cup of hot water, three times per day, with the decoction of the root being 2mls boiled in hot water, three times a day. It's probably best to start off with a small dose, especially if you tend towards overheating very easily as Angelica is a heating herb.
Dose: The general opinion seems to be that the best dosage of tincture would be up to 5mls three times a day for a tincture of the leaf, and up to 3mls three times a day for a root tincture. The dried herb can be used in doses of 5g infused in a cup of hot water, three times per day, with the decoction of the root being 2mls boiled in hot water, three times a day. It's probably best to start off with a small dose, especially if you tend towards overheating very easily as Angelica is a heating herb.
Contraindications: Do not use during pregnancy as the herb is an emmenagogue. The herb should not be used by diabetics due to the high sugar content of the plant. Use of the herb can cause photosensitivity in some individuals. This herb would not suit people with excessively hot constitutions. Use with caution if you have hyperacidity or peptic ulceration, diodenitis and gastro-oesophageal reflux. Use with extreme care if you are on warfarin or any other anticoagulant, as Angelica contains coumarins which may potentiate the action of the drug.