Angelica leaves and root| uses, precautions and more

What is angelica?

Angelica is a genus of plants in the parsley family used in both Western healing and traditional Chinese medicine for good healthcare.

How to prepare angelica for our good healthcare

Angelica root is harvested in the fall, then dried for future use. The leaves of Western angelica can be made into a tea (1 teaspoon powdered leaves to one cup of boiling water steeped up to 20 minutes), a tincture, or a cream for external use.

The root can be made into a tincture or a decoction. The essential oil can be combined with other oils for external use as a massage oil for arthritis.

Dong quai is used in many common Chinese formulas and as a component of many medicinal soups. Because it is most often used with other herbs, dosage varies.

Specific Uses of angelica for our good healthcare

Angelica may taste like a treat, but it is an aid to many types of digestive problems. All parts of the plant relieve indigestion and flatulence.

A tea made from the leaves is the easiest preparation for dealing with these issues.

How to make Angelica Tea for the Stomach disorder

The tea or an infusion of Angelica leaves helps soothe stomach ulcers.

Take 1–2 teaspoons of powered dried leaves
Take 1 cup boiling water

Combine the herb and water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, strain, and drink.

For heartburn or stomachache, make the tea a little stronger by using 2 teaspoons of dried leaves or take ½ to 1 teaspoon of tincture.

A decoction of the roots or seeds can also be used to treat indigestion and flatulence as well as gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

To stimulate the appetite and aid in treating anorexia, take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of root tincture three times a day.

The antispasmodic and diuretic properties of angelica make it helpful in easing menstrual cramps and relieving water retention.

How to make Women’s Monthly Relief Angelica Tea

Take 1 teaspoon of chopped angelica root,
Take ½ teaspoon of powered caraway seeds,
Take ½ teaspoon of powered coriander seeds,
Take 1 cup boiling water

Combine the herbs and add the water. Steep for 15 to 20 minutes and strain. Add a little honey to change the taste a bit.

An infusion of angelica leaves or a decoction of the root can aid with amenorrhea or help stimulate a late menstrual cycle. Drink two or three cups of the infusion or decoction a day, or make a tincture and take a ¼ teaspoon four times a day.

Angelica decoction or tincture to relieve cold symptoms:

Angelica root is a warming tonic for relieving cold symptoms, plus, the root has expectorant properties that help clear congestion.

Drink ½ to 1 cup of root decoction when a cold first hits. For bronchitis and chest coughs, take a ¼ to ½ teaspoon of root tincture three times a day.

Angelica tea made with the leaves or a decoction of the root will also help soothe a cough.

A quick way to freshen a room, especially after sickness, is with angelica
incense. Simply burn a few seeds or small pieces of dried root in a metal or heat resistant container.

Angelica for food:

All parts of angelica have a mild, spicy licorice flavor. The fresh leaves can be used in green salads, savory soups, or stews.

Dried and ground, they can be added to desserts and pastries. The leaves also enhance cheese dishes.

Like the leaves, the dried root has a similar licorice-like taste, but it is a little earthier. Grind the dried roots into a powder to use in breads, cakes, muffins, or cookies.

The seeds can also be used in cakes. The young, green stalks can be chopped and used to sweeten desserts.

In the past it was quite popular to candy the stalks and use them to decorate cakes.

How to make Angelica ice cream or cheesecake

The sweet taste of angelica offsets the tartness of the rhubarb.
Traditional Rhubarb and Angelica 2 cups rhubarb stalks, sliced into

½-inch pieces
¼ cup angelica stems,
finely chopped
1⁄3 cup sugar
2–4 tablespoons water

Toss the rhubarb and angelica with the sugar until they are coated. Add the water and simmer for about 10 minutes until the rhubarb is tender.

This can be used as a pie filling, or it can be served as a stand-alone dessert or as a topping for ice cream or cheesecake.

Health benefits of angelica Essential Oils

Two oils are made from angelica. The oil from the roots ranges from colorless to pale yellow and turns yellow-brown with age.

It has a rich, herbaceous, earthy scent. The oil from the seeds is colorless and has a herbaceous, earthy scent with a spicy undertone.

Massaging with either of the angelica essential oils (diluted in a carrier oil) eases the pain of arthritis and rheumatism and improves blood circulation.

Angelica can be used on its own or blended with other essential oils. The following massage blend can be used to make bath salts for a soothing soak, too.

How to make Angelica Warming Relief Massage Oil

5 drops angelica seed or root
essential oil 4 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops lemon balm essential oil
1 ounce carrier oil

Mix the essential oils together and then combine with the carrier oil.
Angelica is calming and soothing, and it helps to relieve anxiety, nervous tension, headache, and stress.

Use it on its own in a diffuser or mix it in equal amounts with lavender and lemon balm. The combination of these three oils also makes a nice massage oil.

How to use Angelica for skin care,

Angelica is effective for treating psoriasis. Mix one drop each of angelica seed and lemon balm essential oils with one teaspoon of apricot kernel or jojoba carrier oil. Gently dab the mixture on the affected areas.

Angelica also helps brighten dull complexions. Combine the seed oil with lavender to make a cream that will soften and smooth the skin.

Angelica Complexion Care Cream ½ cup shea butter
2–3 beeswax pastilles (pellets)
½ cup sweet almond carrier oil 1 cup distilled or filtered water
1 teaspoon angelica seed essential oil
1 teaspoon lavender essential oil

Combine the shea butter and beeswax in a jar and warm over low heat. When they begin to melt, add the carrier oil and stir gently.

After everything melts, remove from heat and stir. Let it cool slightly, pour into a blender, and add the water and essential oils. Whip to get a light, creamy consistency.

You may need to experiment with the amount of oils to get a consistency you like. Transfer the cream to a jar, allow it to cool, and then store.

Precautions to take when using angelica

Pregnant women should not take angelica because of its effects on the reproductive system.

It is not known whether angelica passes into breast milk, so breastfeeding women should also avoid the herb. Safe use in children has not been established.

People who are taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should discuss taking any preparations containing angelica with their doctor.

The herb appears to have anticlotting effects and may, when taken with other blood-thinning agents, cause excessive bleeding.

Individuals who are allergic to plants in the same family as angelica, including anise, caraway, carrot, celery, dill, and parsley, may experience an allergic reaction to dong quai.

Women who have or have had estrogen-sensitive cancers should avoid dong quai until more research is done on its estrogen-like properties.

Dong quai, like Western angelica, contains compounds that can cause a person exposed to the sun or other source of ultraviolet rays to develop severe sunburn and/or rash.

These problems become more severe when using the concentrated essential oil or purified forms of the herb. The essential oil also contains safrole, a known carcinogen.

Side effects In addition to increasing the risk of photodermatitis, angelica is considered to be a mild laxative and may cause diarrhea.

Health benefits of Angelica - healthcare