Angelica officinalis.

Angelica officinalis

A large biennial plant of the celery family, up to 2 m high. The rhizome is short, thick, with numerous roots and an aromatic odor. The stem is erect, branched, hollow inside with a bluish coating.

The leaves are large, alternate, glabrous, double- and triple-pinnate, with cylindrical petioles and swollen membranous sheaths. It blooms in the 2nd year of life, in June - August. The flowers are white, small, collected in a spherical umbrella.

The fruit is a two-seeded straw-yellow color.

Angelica officinalis is widespread in the European part of Russia and Western Siberia. It grows in damp places - in fields, along the banks of rivers, streams, lakes and on forest edges.

The medicinal raw materials are rhizomes with roots, which have a pleasant, refreshing odor. In the 1st year, plants are harvested in the fall, in the 2nd year - in early spring. They dig them up with shovels, shake them off the ground, wash them with cold water and cut them crosswise.

Dry under a canopy, in the attic or in a dryer at a temperature of 35.40°C, laying out in a thin layer.

The raw material has an aromatic odor.

Store in a well-closed wooden container for 3 years. The rhizome and roots contain essential oil, furocoumarins, organic acids, phytosterols, tannins and resins. Angelica preparations have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, diaphoretic and wound-healing effects.

They help relax the smooth muscles of internal organs, enhance the secretion of gastric and bronchial glands, have a bactericidal effect, and suppress fermentation processes in the intestines.

Angelica has a tonic effect on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, increases bile secretion and pancreatic juice secretion. At. For gout, rheumatism and lower back pain, alcohol tinctures are used for rubbing.

To prepare the decoction, place 3 tablespoons of raw materials in an enamel bowl, add 1 glass of hot water, boil over low heat for 30 minutes, cool at room temperature for 10 minutes and filter. Take hot, 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day after meals.