Angelica

Angelica archangelica L. (angelica, angelica)

Angelica, or angelica, is a tall, up to 2.5 m, perennial plant of the celery family. It has a straight, thick, hollow inside stem, which is why the plant received another name - angelica. Bears and moose love to feast on young stems and leaf petioles of angelica. For this reason, it was popularly called “bear bun”.

Angelica has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. The plant has an unusually wide spectrum of action and is second only to ginseng in its healing properties.

More than 30 different types of angelica are known, but the type most often used for medicinal purposes isAngelicaarchangelica. In Chinese medicine, it was used to treat various female diseases, infertility, and was highly valued as a stomach remedy and a sedative along with valerian. In Europe, angelica was indispensable during epidemics of infectious diseases. According to legend, this property of angelica was revealed to one monk by an angel during a plague epidemic. Paracelsus used a potion made from angelica roots to treat the bubonic plague. In Central Asia, the miraculous root was part of the elixir of longevity, the recipe for which is still unknown to modern science.

To this day, angelica leaves are added to salads and soups; they are a substitute for tea. Pleasant-tasting candied fruits and jam are made from the young stems. In the food industry, angelica is added as a seasoning to bakery and confectionery products. Tincture of roots is included in liqueurs and alcohol tinctures.

The strong aroma of angelica attracted the attention of perfumers several centuries ago. There are currently two types of angelica oil known. The root oil has a sweet, fragrant scent with notes of greenery, earth and an exotic hint of nutmeg. Seed oil has a more delicate, spicy and very persistent aroma. These oils are valued in perfumery. The only obstacle to the widespread use of angelica essential oil is the high price.

Medicinal properties

1. Prescribed for nasal polyps, runny nose, cough, colds, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, and flu.
2. Improves appetite, enhances intestinal motility, strengthens the stomach, increases the secretion of gastric and pancreatic juice, suppresses fermentation processes in the intestines. Effective for dyspepsia, nervous and hypacid gastritis, duodenitis, infectious nonspecific colitis, flatulence, gastric ulcer, belching, tendency to nausea, vomiting.
3. Increases bile secretion, normalizes adrenal function. Prescribed for biliary dyskinesia and kidney diseases.
4. Tones up cardiac activity. Indicated for heart failure.
5. Promotes the formation of red blood cells, blood purification, circulation.
6. Has a beneficial effect on anemia and rickets.
7. Stimulates the immune system.
8. Allows you to quickly restore strength after surgery, childbirth, or long-term illness.
9. Used for rheumatism, gout, muscle pain and lower back pain.
10. Improves the menstrual cycle, eliminates premenstrual syndrome, and alleviates menopausal problems.
11. Relieves spasms of organs with smooth muscles.
12. Antitumor agent.
13. Analgesizes toothache and ear pain.
14. Used for fungal and inflammatory skin diseases, psoriasis, scars, wounds, bruises.
15. In folk medicine it is known as an emollient, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic, choleretic, anthelmintic, laxative, analgesic, sedative, expectorant, antispasmodic, increasing the acidity of gastric juice. Used for hysteria, epilepsy, insomnia, hypochondria, nervous exhaustion, convulsions, dyspepsia, indigestion, gastritis, flatulence, bloating, intestinal atony, colic, catarrh, bronchitis, insufficient kidney function, liver disease, tinnitus, typhoid epidemics , scarlet fever, cholera, measles.
16. Has a calming and balancing effect on the nervous system. Effective for vegetative neurosis, nervous excitement, hysteria.
17. Aphrodisiac.
18. An excellent product for caring for aging skin: rejuvenates, regenerates.
19. Destroys linen lice.

Dosage

Oil burner: 2-3 k.

Internally: 1-2 k. with 1 tsp. 40% alcohol 2-3 times a day before meals.

Baths: 3-4 k.

Massage: 3-5 k. per 10 ml of transport oil.

Inhalations: 1-2 k.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 4-5 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance, pregnancy, diabetes, uterine bleeding.

Note. Angelica oil has a phototoxic effect. It is not recommended to use it internally with honey.