2023-04-25 03:37:48
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) belongs to the Apiaceae family. Genre Angelica counts, according to the classifications, 50 to 70 species of large herbaceous perennials, very widely distributed in the spontaneous state in Europe, where they find the moist soil they need, while resisting the cold well. Originally from Scandinavia, angelica was introduced to France to protect once morest the plague in the 12th century. Over the centuries, many therapeutic virtues have been detected in this “herb of the holy spirit”, as Renaissance doctors called it.
Angelica, appetite stimulant
Angelica archangelica syn. Archangelica officinalisangelica officinalis, archangelica, angelica of the woods, true angelica, grass with angels or even grass of the Holy Spirit is therefore a biennial or triennial plant which can rise to 1.5 or 2m in height, with its hollow, fluted, purplish stems, branched, carrying deciduous leaves, ample, bipinnate to tripinnate, hairy on the reverse, long petiolate, with embracing sheath, with toothed leaflets. It frequents the edges of ditches or the banks of wetlands.
The greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in the second or even third year form umbels, on Saint Michael’s Day, one of the 7 Archangels of Christianity, which is September 29, but actually August to october. It then gives rise to fruiting in the form of achenes bearing marginal wings reminiscent of those of angels. All this explains its vernacular names linked to angels in order to scare away monsters!
Angelica contains an essential oil which releases a strong smell between celery and musk at the slightest rustling of its aerial parts or its large wrinkled root. The latter as well as the fruits concentrate the essence at the origin of this musky smell; they are rich in monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, ambretolide and pentadecanolide. The plant contains coumarins and furanocoumarins, flavonoids and tannins.
The medicinal properties of angelica
It is the digestive and stomachic virtues of the roots, but also of all the other parts of the plant, which make angelica famous in herbal medicine. The plant acts as a tonic for gastric and pancreatic secretions, it stimulates the appetite and facilitates the evacuation of bile and gases, which helps people sensitive to dyspepsia and gastric hyposecretions, flatulence, gastric ulcers, gastro cramps -intestinal, gastritis.
In case of bronchitis, angelica would relieve thanks to its expectorant, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
When the nervous factor is involved, with a state of prolonged stress or nervous fatigue, angelica, with its antispasmodic assets, can provide relief.
Angelica archangelica – fruit and underground parts – is listed on List A “of traditionally used medicinal plants”; it is authorized – fruit, leaf, rhizome, root – as a food supplement by the decree of 24 June 2014 establishing the list of plants, other than mushrooms, authorized in food supplements and the conditions for their use.
Angelica can be purchased in pharmacies, herbalists or nature stores. It can also be cultivated in the garden for medicinal purposes, which is more careful not to confuse it with the angelica sylvester (Angelica sylvestris) but especially with the particularly toxic hemlock. Angelica is presented and used in different ways:
- in infusion: 2 to 4 g of dried roots or 4 to 10 g of dried leaves / 50 cl (1 to 3 cups maximum / day), to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes,
- in decoction: 2 to 4 g of dried roots / 50 cl (2 to 3 cups maximum / day), to boil and leave to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes,
- in capsules, fluid extracts or mother tincture, according to the instructions of the pharmacist,
- in essential oil, on medical prescription for internal use; in a mixture of one drop with 4 drops of vegetable oil, for external use, applied to the inside of the wrists to breathe it and reduce stress. Be careful, the plant causes photosensitization of skin exposed to the sun.
- in lemon balm water, for its tonic, stimulating and soothing properties for nervous disorders, since angelica roots are part of the ingredients along with lemon balm, lemon, cinnamon, cloves, coriander and nutmeg.
The plant in the kitchen
The stems of candied angelica have made the reputation of the town of Niort since the 18th century: the small green sticks present in the candied fruit cake are candied angelica.
Do you know the “vespetro”? It is a liqueur intended to prevent flatulence characteristic of poor digestion; it is similar to a kind of angelica and coriander ratafia.
The use of plants for treatment must be done by first seeking advice from a doctor, pharmacist or herbalist. Regarding children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with chronic and serious illnesses or taking medication, consultation with a doctor is required before self-medication that may cause adverse effects, including drug interactions.
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