Angelica was used in the Middle Ages, around 1450, to make a medicine against the dreaded plague. At the time, the plant only occurred in the north of Europe and was unknown to the Romans. The plant is said to have appeared in a vision, but it is not known for sure which angel it was and who had the vision. The angel is said to have said that you can use the root of that plant to heal from the plague or to prevent this disease. From the Netherlands to Asia, angelica is still used as a medicinal plant. In addition, oil is extracted from angelica; angelica oil. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Archangel root
• The Sami people and the angelica
• Dodoens and sorcery
• Angelica oil as medicine
• Detox with angelica root
• Science and signature theory
• Angelica and conventional medicine
• Angelica in Chinese medicine

Archangel root

Other names used for this plant are archangelica and angelica angelica. The plant grows to a height of two meters and produces large flowers. Angelica belongs to the umbellifer family. The leaves of the angelica can be eaten as a vegetable. In Germany the leaves are candied. You can prepare the leaves in the same way as spinach. It is also delicious to mix angelica leaves in a spinach or endive dish.Angelica / Source: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

The Sami people and the angelica

Angelica grows wild throughout Scandinavia. The Sami people live in the north of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Sami people have used the hollow stem of angelica to make flutes. They ate the leaves and young sprouts as vegetables and made medicine from the leaves. Because the leaf has a nice aroma, they also used it to add reindeer milk to make it extra tasty.

Dodoens and sorcery

Rembert Dodoens, a herbalist from modern-day Flanders, wrote about angelica that it could prevent curses and sorceries of evil spirits from doing their work. The root had to be carried for this purpose, after which one was protected from the work of evil sorcerers. In earlier times, a disease was equated with the presence of a demon who could cause a disease to fall on someone through a force field.

Angelica oil as medicine

Angelica has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Oil is made from the root of this plant. It takes 350 kilos of root to make one liter of angelica oil. Today this plant is used in aromatherapy and is said to help against many diseases.

• Psoriasis,
• Fatigue,
• Joint problems such as Rheumatism, Gout, Osteoarthritis,
• Respiratory problems such as Bronchitis, Cough, Cold,
• Anemia,
• Digestive problems such as stomach cramps, Constipation, Dyspepsia, Indigestion and Flatulence,
• Hemorrhoids,
• palpitations,
• Jaundice and
• Insomnia could all be cured with angelica.

 Young angelica / Source: Misterke Bloem, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Detox with angelica root

The reason that angelica root combats joint problems is that the body is better able to urinate, so that substances that cause joint problems can leave the body faster and more effectively. Angelica helps the body to detoxify.

Science and signature theory

Scientific research confirms several medicinal effects that were mentioned on the basis of the signature theory. In earlier times, the hollow stem was associated with the trachea according to signature theory. That was the reason it is good for chronic bronchitis, colds and coughs. Modern scientists can confirm this fact. Scientific research in China has shown that angelica is a good medicine for liver cirrhosis. The age-old wisdom that it is good against jaundice seems to have been proven. Scientific research in Germany has proven that angelica helps against indigestion and flatulence.Leaves of angelica / Source: TeunSpaans, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Angelica and conventional medicine

Diabetic patients should avoid angelica because it increases blood sugar levels in the urine. People who use medication and also want to do herbal therapy should always ask for additional advice from their GP and/or herbal therapist. The latter is trained to know whether herbs and medicines interact with each other.

Angelica in Chinese medicine

In China, a variant of angelica has been used as a medicinal plant. It is used to restore hormone balance. In China and India the plant is used to treat menopausal symptoms. Chinese physicians used the plant to combat menstrual cramps. This effect has not yet been confirmed by modern science. Because Chinese herbal scientists are convinced that angelica root induces menstruation, it is generally not recommended to eat angelica root during pregnancy.

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