Angelica officinalis for poisoning. Angelica roots: beneficial properties and contraindications. What are the benefits of plants for women in gynecology?
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Angelica officinalis has long been known to residents of the European part of our continent. Many drinks and traditional dishes include powder from the roots and rhizomes of this plant. In addition, angelica officinalis was very often used by healers in folk medicine.
Description of the species
Angelica officinalis is a large umbellate biennial plant. The average height of angelica is two and a half meters; perennial species of this plant are extremely rare. The rhizome of the plant is brown, rather short and thick, vertical, reaching a diameter of up to eight centimeters.
The main rhizome has a large number of the same vertical roots containing white or yellow juice. The average weight of roots is about three hundred grams.
In the upper part, the erect, hollow, single, glabrous, cylindrical stem branches and very often has reddish, brown stripes and a slimy coating. The foliage of angelica is specific, pinnate, divided into three parts with large ovoid, both two-lobed and three-lobed segments. Foliage closer to the root has longer petioles.
Angelica blooms in the second year throughout the summer. Angelica flowers are small, pale green, located at the top, like the base
of the stem and on its branches. The flowers form complex hemispherical or spherical umbrellas. A peculiarity of angelica flowers is the presence of light powdery fluff on the rays of the umbrellas and on the pedicels.
After flowering, angelica forms flat, winged fruits, which, when ripe, fall into two parts. The ripening period falls in August-September. Angelica officinalis is a very prolific plant, each of them produces up to five hundred grams of seeds.
Angelica officinalis reproduces both by seeds and vegetatively. The main distribution area of angelica is the European part of the Eurasian continent. Angelica loves moisture, so it is quite often found near rivers, lakes and in damp alder forests or thickets of various shrubs.
Collection and preparation
The leaves, shoots, seeds, rhizomes and roots of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Root materials are collected from biennial plants in the spring before the first shoots appear, that is, in early April. Raw materials from plants of the first year of life are obtained in the fall, in September-October.
The roots and rhizomes of angelica are dug up with a shovel, the soil is cleared and the above-ground part is removed, after which they must be thoroughly washed in cold water. If the roots are too large, they are cut into pieces and laid out to dry. Drying of raw materials can be done both in the open air and in dryers or conventional ovens. When using ovens, the temperature should not be exceeded (up to 40°C). Drying in the fresh air takes up to 10 days. The finished raw material should break when bent. If the raw material is poorly dried, it will quickly disappear, as it is prone to mold and insects love it. Dry roots can be used for three years.
The roots and rhizomes of angelica have a specific taste and smell: the initial taste is sweetish, turning into bitterish and burning, and the smell is aromatic, which intensifies when rubbed.
The harvesting of angelica leaves and shoots for the purpose of using them later as food is carried out in the spring before the plants begin to flower, and for medicinal purposes, on the contrary, after flowering. Drying of leaves and shoots is done in the fresh air, and the finished raw materials are best consumed within a year. After collection, the seeds of the plant are dried at room temperature, and their shelf life is three years.
You should be very careful in the process of harvesting angelica rhizomes, since by mistake you can collect the roots of angelica silica, which is very similar to angelica and grows in the same places as it. Angelica silica, despite its similarities with angelica, has a number of differences. Thus, angelica inflorescences are shield-shaped with white corollas. The stem of angelica, especially at the top, has edges. The fruits are fused, and, in general, the plant is a perennial.
Medicinal properties
Medicinal extracts from angelica and preparations based on them are used to provide diuretic, anti-inflammatory, as well as antispasmodic and diaphoretic effects. The antispasmodic effect is exerted, first of all, by the essential oils they contain, which, when they enter the digestive tract, increase gastric secretion due to a slight irritant effect on the gastric mucosa.
In addition, essential oils also have an antispasmodic and bactericidal effect on the respiratory tract, since, upon absorption, they are secreted by the bronchial glands and also have an enhancing effect on their secretion. The diaphoretic and diuretic effect of the plant is explained by the presence of various organic acids in it.
Use in folk medicine
The use of angelica as a traditional medicine is quite large. Decoctions from the roots and rhizomes of angelica are used for vegetative neurosis, flatulence, diseases of the biliary tract, laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Root tincture has a positive effect on the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Extracts and extractions are very effective for gastritis and duodenitis.
The use of angelica as a sedative is comparable to the effect of taking similar drugs based on valerian root. Traditional healers also use decoctions of the plant to treat gastritis and cystitis, bronchitis, neurasthenia, insomnia, diarrhea and flatulence. Angelica tinctures are used to treat radiculitis, rheumatism and gout; bath infusion and fresh juice are also suitable for the same purposes; in addition, the latter relieves toothache and helps in the treatment of otitis media.
The use of infusions from this plant is also varied, these include the treatment of gastritis accompanied by high acidity, colitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cough, inflammation of the pancreas, sleep disorders, problems with urination, and nervous disorders. Angelica leaves have a diaphoretic and diuretic effect, and the fruits have a choleretic and anticonvulsant effect. Angelica officinalis is also used to prepare ointments for the treatment of head lice.
Medicinal recipes
Angelica officinalis is used in various forms, including decoction, infusion, and powder.
- Root decoction, use: antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, appetite stimulant: Pour three tablespoons of angelica officinalis root with a glass of boiling water and boil in a water bath for half an hour. Cool slightly, strain. And bring the volume of the resulting decoction to the original volume using boiled water. The finished broth should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days. Take half a glass of the decoction up to three times a day, warmed after meals.
- Decoction of seeds, application: has a strong diuretic property. For half a liter of boiling water, take one tablespoon of seeds and boil for five minutes. Set the resulting decoction aside and cool; strain the decoction only after the seeds have sunk. Take the prepared strained decoction of seeds five times a day, 100 grams each. To improve the taste of the broth, you can add honey to it.
- Baths from roots and rhizomes, application: for the treatment of multiple joint lesions and pustular diseases. Boil thoroughly crushed roots and rhizomes (150 grams) for ten minutes in a liter of water. Strain and pour into the bath. The bath should be taken for twenty minutes.
- Herbal infusion, use: gastritis with high acidity, colitis, insomnia. Boil angelica herb (15 grams) in 200 grams of water and leave to infuse for several hours, then strain. For one dose there are two tablespoons of infusion. It should be consumed up to four times a day, immediately before meals.
- Powder from the roots and rhizomes of angelica, application: colitis, flatulence, gastritis. Ready-made powder from roots and rhizomes is taken half a gram before meals three times a day.
Contraindications for use
Angelica officinalis is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, and can also cause increased sensitivity to sunlight in people with fair skin when taking angelica and drugs based on it for a sufficiently long time.
Angelica juice can cause burns and dermatitis if it comes into contact with exposed skin, especially in the summer.
Taking angelica is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in the presence of uterine bleeding. Particular caution should be exercised in using angelica if there is a tendency to diarrhea and tachycardia, bleeding and high fever.
Description of angelica
Angelica is an unusual umbrella plant that often reaches a height of more than two meters. The thick, rounded stem is hollow inside and very branched in the upper part. The large, smooth leaves of this herbaceous plant are considered doubly pinnate. The very small flowers have a greenish-white tint. They are collected in spherical umbrellas of complex shape, which contain from 20 to 40 rays. Such original umbrellas do not have a common typical wrapper. The fruit is presented in the form of a two-seed.
Angelica blooms from June to the very end of August. The fruits ripen in August and September. The plant is very common in Russia and Europe. It can often be found in Siberia and the Urals. It prefers to settle on moist soils along rivers, along ravines, in swampy forests and swamps. For medicinal use, powerful rhizomes with roots are collected. After digging, they should be washed well in cold water and then cut into pieces of the desired size. It is recommended to dry the raw materials outdoors in the shade.
Useful properties of angelica
Large rhizomes and roots of angelica contain a lot of organic acids, carotene, wax, bitter and essential tannins, as well as essential angelica oil, resins, starch, phytoncides, furocoumarins and coumarins. Due to this exceptional composition, in case of overdose they can cause serious toxic and allergic reactions.
The plant not only has anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic properties, but also boasts the ability to enhance the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract. The amazing angelica quickly reduces or completely eliminates negative fermentation processes in the human intestines, while simultaneously relieving spasms. Umbrellas also have an expectorant effect on various inflammations of the respiratory system.
Application of angelica
The presented plant perfectly helps with chronic and. Numerous preparations based on angelica are indicated for the treatment of respiratory diseases and laryngitis. For stomatitis and gingivitis, they are prescribed as rinses. With regular procedures, these diseases recede. You can also use angelica in the form of infusions as a diuretic or choleretic agent.
Various decoctions of angelica roots are useful for severe exhaustion of the nervous system, acute or chronic neuralgia, as well as bronchial asthma. The products have a relaxing effect when aromatizing baths. A special alcohol tincture of the plant is in most cases used externally for rheumatism. In ancient times, the roots were used as a natural flavoring and incomparable spice.
One of the ways to prepare angelica is as follows. At 3 tbsp. l. dry and well-chopped herb, take 2 cups of boiling water. Let this delicious mixture steep for at least two hours and then strain. The infusion should be taken half a glass 4 times a day before each meal.
Angelica root
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In the autumn, roots and rhizomes are collected. They are dug up, then cut into small pieces and dried for a long time under canopies in the open air, so that they are not exposed to direct sunlight. To prepare a healing decoction from angelica roots, you will need no more than 10 grams of raw material per 100 ml of water. This excellent remedy is indicated for bronchitis, laryngitis, as well as other equally dangerous respiratory diseases.
Many doctors recommend taking a decoction of the plant for gastritis, flatulence and duodenal problems. It perfectly helps restore the gastric mucosa after ulcers heal. This remedy is distinguished by its anthelmintic, antitumor and antispasmodic properties. You can make compresses from it to treat not only gout and rheumatism, but also toothache.
The healing tincture of the roots can be drunk for neuroses and dangerous liver diseases. If you drip the juice of the roots into the hollow of a diseased tooth, it will work no worse than a modern painkiller. All remedies made from angelica roots boast antipyretic and tonic effects on the human body. They easily relieve headaches, alleviate fevers and relieve pain in the.
Angelica extract
The magical plant angelica has been used since ancient times by our ancestors. Previously, with the help of this unsurpassed plant, plague and other deadly ailments were cured. The wonderful extract of angelica is one of the miraculous remedies in folk medicine. This health-improving drug tends to have a therapeutic beneficial effect on almost every organ of the human body. It is effective in treating diseases of the spleen and liver.
Also, angelica extract helps restore the functioning of the central nervous system in a minimal amount of time. This amazing plant has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the responsible cardiovascular system, which are important in the body. After completing the full course of treatment with this extraordinary remedy, an excellent appetite is noted, as well as complete digestion and assimilation of all components from food. At the same time, this drug is able to quickly normalize arterial blood pressure.
Angelica extract is indispensable in the fight against various dysfunctions of the human body. These may include serious functional disorders of the central nervous system. Women who have any problems due to inflammatory processes in the female genital area should undergo a long course of treatment with this remedy. In combination with modern therapy, you can get rid of recurrent gynecological ailments forever.
Types of angelica:
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The fantastic medicinal plant angelica includes several main species, which have been widely used since ancient times to treat many diseases.
Angelica silica. This biennial herbaceous plant grows up to two meters in height. It has a short thick rhizome. When broken, an interesting white juice is released, similar in consistency to milk. The erect, bare stem is very thick; it is presented in a hollow form. The oblong leaves of the plant can be either double or triple pinnate. Small white flowers are always collected in complex umbels. Their diameter does not exceed 17 cm.
The fruit is presented in the form of a small two-seeded seed. Fresh mashed rhizomes and stems have a bitter taste and a strong specific odor. This type of angelica blooms from June to the end of August. It grows in wet meadows, along the gentle banks of streams and rivers, and also among bushes. The plant is distributed almost everywhere in Russia and the CIS countries.
Angelica marsh. The presented type of plant does not exceed one meter in height. This herbaceous perennial with a hollow angular-furrowed stem and large pinnately dissected leaves has oblong oval-shaped fruits, which are 5 mm long. The umbrellas reach 7 cm in diameter and have from 8 to 30 rays. The white petals are broadly ovoid in shape. An elegant involucre consists of many linear-lanceolate leaves. Marsh angelica blooms all summer, from late May to mid-August.
The plant is found in Ukraine and Belarus, in the territories of the European part of Russia and Eastern Siberia, as well as in Central Asia. As usual, it prefers damp meadows and swampy river banks.
Angelica Chinese. This umbrella perennial is not very tall. It has dense powerful rhizomes, a hollow stem and large fleshy leaves. Small flowers form healing umbrellas. This medicinal plant has absorbed exceptional healing components. Chinese angelica is contained in the popular dietary supplement "Lian-Yan", which today is very widely used for the effective treatment of respiratory diseases, gynecological ailments and gastrointestinal pathologies, as well as other chronic problems.
Angelica contraindications
Due to the photosensitizing properties of the plant, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight when using the herb. You should strictly monitor the prescribed doses, avoiding overdoses.
Expert editor: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna| Herbalist
Education: Diploma in General Medicine and Therapy received from the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Herbal Medicine at the Moscow People's Friendship University (2008).
The herbaceous plant Angelica officinalis (Archangelica officinalis), also called Angelica officinalis, is a species of the Angelica genus of the Apiaceae family. The homeland of this herb is the northern part of Eurasia. Gardeners grow it as an ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plant. It is also called Angelica, Wolf's pipe, meadow angelica, common grass, podranica, angelica, piper, and in Europe - angelica or angelica. Angelica was brought to Central Europe from Scandinavia in the 15th century, after which it spread to other areas. In nature, angelica prefers to grow in pine-birch and spruce forests, along forest ravines, and also along the banks of streams and rivers.
Angelica officinalis is a herbaceous, fragrant biennial plant, which in the first year of growth forms only a basal rosette consisting of a bunch of leaf plates, while the development of peduncles and shoots occurs only in the second year. The short, brown, radish-shaped rhizome reaches about 80 mm in diameter and is overgrown with many adventitious roots. It contains milky juice of white or pale yellow color. A single erect bare thick stem reaches a height of about 250 cm, it has a cylindrical shape, is branched in the upper part, and hollow inside. Alternately arranged triple-pinnate leaf plates have large two- or three-lobed ovoid segments. The basal leaves are large, triangular in shape and have long petioles, while the stem leaves are smaller and have a stem-encompassing sheath. The umbrella-shaped inflorescence is quite large, complex and almost spherical, it consists of 20–40 rays and reaches about 15 centimeters in diameter. The inflorescence is formed on a peduncle, which has dense pubescence in the upper part. Small flowers consist of 5 petals of greenish-yellow color; they do not represent any decorative value. The fruit is an elliptical two-seeded yellow or pale green color, which splits into 2 semi-fruits. Flowering of the bush is observed in the second year of life from June to August. Fruit ripening occurs in July–September.
Sowing
For growing angelica, well-lit areas or those in partial shade are best suited, and the soil should be nutritious, well-moistened and permeable. The site is prepared immediately before sowing; for this purpose, it is dug up and humus or compost is added to the soil. Then the surface of the area is leveled. This crop is sown in open ground in September before winter; before the onset of spring, the seed will have time to undergo natural stratification. Seeds need to be sown thickly, because their germination rate is relatively low. If excessively dense shoots appear in the spring, they will need to be planted, adhering to the 60x40 or 60x30 centimeters pattern. Crops do not need shelter for the winter.
In the case when the sowing of angelica seeds is planned for the spring, they will need to be stratified. To do this, the seed is placed in the refrigerator on the vegetable shelf, where it will remain for 3 winter months. However, do not forget to first combine it with moistened sand and pour the resulting mixture into a container. Most often, with the onset of spring, very few germinating seeds remain.
After the seedlings appear, it is recommended to mulch the surface of the bed with moss, which will have a beneficial effect on plant productivity. It is very simple to grow angelica on your own plot; to do this, you need to water it during drought, remove weeds from the plot, feed it with mineral fertilizers twice a season, often loosen the soil surface around the bushes, and also, if necessary, protect them from harmful insects and diseases.
Diseases and pests
In some cases, such a herbaceous plant is affected by fungal diseases, namely powdery mildew or rust. Experts do not recommend spraying bushes with chemicals, as they are characterized by their ability to accumulate toxic substances. In this regard, it is better to resort to preventive measures: adhere to the rules of crop rotation, feed the plants with mineral fertilizers with a minimum amount of nitrogen, and systematically remove weeds from the garden beds.
Angelica is distinguished by its resistance to drought, and the greatest danger of harmful insects for it is the spider mite, which also prefers dry weather. In order to get rid of ticks, the bushes should be sprayed with tobacco infusion. To prepare it, combine three liters of water and 0.2 kg of tobacco or shag; after a day, the infusion will be ready. The strained infusion must be combined with 50 mg of liquid soap to increase its stickiness, then the bushes and the soil underneath them are treated with it.
Most often, angelica root is used for medicinal purposes; only in some cases its leaves and seeds are used for this purpose. For bushes of the first year of life, root harvesting is carried out in the autumn (September–October), and for plants of the second year of life, in the spring (March–April). They should be carefully removed from the soil, then the remaining soil is removed from the roots and the above-ground part is cut off. After this, a thorough inspection of the raw materials is carried out, and those roots that have been injured by moles or voles must be discarded, because they lose their medicinal properties. Then the roots need to be washed in cold water and cut lengthwise. Pieces of raw materials are laid out in one layer on a wire rack, paper sheet or thin cloth for drying; they are placed in the shade in the open air or in a well-ventilated room. In order to dry the roots in the oven, you should heat it to a temperature of 35–40 degrees. The foliage is harvested during the flowering period; it is dried in a shaded place in the open air.
After the raw materials are ready, they are placed in cardboard boxes that can be tightly closed, or in bags. It can be stored for no longer than 2 years.
Main types and varieties
Angelica officinalis has 3 subspecies, namely: Angelica archangelica subsp. archangelica; Angelica archangelica subsp. norvegica; Angelica archangelica subsp. litoralis. In Russia, work on developing new varieties of this plant is not underway. The most popular among gardeners are European varieties of angelica such as Jizerka and Budakalaszi.
Properties of angelica: harm and benefit
Angelica officinalis contains a large number of useful substances. Thus, the rhizome contains essential oils, valeric, malic, acetic, angelic and other acids, as well as resins, wax, sugars, carotene, pectins, bitter and tannins. An essential oil is extracted from the roots, which is a musky-smelling liquid that contains protein, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, fatty oils, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin B12 and ascorbic acid. The oil has such a characteristic aroma due to the fact that it contains the substance ambrettolide.
For a long time, people have known that this plant helps stimulate blood circulation, strengthen the immune system and heart muscle, increase the secretion of pancreatic juice and bile, and also tones the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It is used for gout, rheumatism, and also for kidney diseases. To rub the lower back for pain, use an alcohol tincture of angelica. Its rhizome is included in preparations that are recommended during the treatment of alcohol addiction. This root also has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and diuretic effects. It is recommended for use for bronchitis, colds, indigestion, infertility in anemic women, circulatory disorders, prenatal and postpartum weakness and dizziness. Angelica is also used for cystitis and rheumatic inflammatory processes due to the fact that it has an antiseptic effect. In alternative medicine, it is used for withering and irritation of the skin, and also in the treatment of psoriasis. The fragrance of such a plant is often used in the cosmetics and perfume industry, especially in colognes and perfumes with an oriental bouquet. It is also used in the food industry to flavor alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Angelica honey is very valuable; its color varies from amber-red to dark brown. Honey can have a lard-like, fine-grained, resin-like or even thicker consistency. This honey differs from the rest in that it has a weak ability to crystallize. It has a specific smell and a sharp, pleasant taste with a barely noticeable bitterness and a caramel-candy aftertaste.
Contraindications
Angelica should not be consumed by people with individual intolerance to the substances it contains. Also, experts do not recommend using it for patients with diabetes and during pregnancy.
Due to its pronounced spicy, sweetish taste, this plant is often used in cooking. Angelica seeds are added to vodka and various dishes, powder to baked goods, and candies. Fresh roots are used to make jam, candied fruits and marshmallows. Moreover, angelica is an excellent honey plant. Any part of the herb is used to make sauces.
In addition, angelica is valued by folk healers. Preparations based on this healing plant will help cure various diseases and eliminate many problems. Angelica is popularly called sweet trunk, trunk, meadow pipe, angelica, barnyard, wolf's pipe, wolf's root.
Botanical characteristics of the barn
Angelica is a herbaceous biennial of the Apiaceae family, reaching a height of two or more meters. Another official name is Angelica officinalis. The plant is equipped with a brown, short, thick vertical rhizome, a tall single stem, large triangular leaves, and numerous small greenish-white flowers forming spherical umbrellas.
Angelica blooms in mid-summer, only from the second year, and the fruits ripen in early autumn. The plant bears fruit with flat, winged pods.
Europe, Asia, Central Europe, the Urals, Western Siberia are the habitat of the cowshed. Damp, wet soils, banks of lakes and rivers, ditches, edges of swamps, water meadows, clearings, forest edges, willows are places where the plant grows.
Wolf's pipe: collection, preparation, storage of plant materials
The rhizomes, leaves, petioles, and seeds of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Angelica roots are harvested, as a rule, during the period of the most intense ripening of fruits. After digging up the raw material, it is cleaned of dirt and other impurities, washed, and cut. Next, the rhizomes are placed on paper or cellophane and dried in the open air. To speed up the drying process, you can use special dryers or ovens. It is very important to adhere to a special temperature regime that does not exceed forty degrees. Properly prepared rhizomes should have a strong spicy aroma.
As for collecting leaves, it must be done in the month of October. Then they are either laid out on oilcloth and dried in the shade or under a canopy, or they are made into bundles and dried in attics.
The shoots need to be harvested at the beginning of the spring, before the barn begins to flower. Only young shoots are suitable for preparing medicines. They dry in the same way as leaves.
You can store harvested raw materials for up to 3 years, no more.
Wolf root: chemical composition, healing properties
This miraculous plant contains far from a small amount of healing and nutrients:
- essential oils;
- resinous substances;
- organic acids: angelic, acetic, malic, valeric;
- tannins;
- bitterness;
- sugars;
- phytosterols;
- pectin compounds;
- carotene;
- phellandrene;
- fatty oils;
- proteins;
- proteins;
- fats;
- ash;
- fiber;
- ascorbic acid;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- wax;
- coumarins;
- starch;
- borneol.
The substances that make up angelica give it a whole arsenal of pharmacological properties, due to which, in fact, the plant is widely used in folk medicine. Cowweed has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, antimicrobial, diuretic, tonic, analgesic, expectorant, laxative, bactericidal, immunostimulating, tonic, astringent, disinfectant, vasoconstrictor, bacteriostatic, antipyretic, sedative, carminative effects.
Barn preparations contribute to:
- stimulation of appetite;
- normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- increased urination;
- stimulating bile secretion;
- normalization of digestion;
- increased bile secretion;
- reducing fermentation processes;
- activation of the body's defenses;
- increased gastrointestinal motility;
- normalization of the functioning of the central nervous system;
- increased secretion of glands;
- normalization of the cardiovascular system;
- normalization of blood pressure;
- strengthening bone tissue;
- lowering cholesterol;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- treatment of biliary dyskinesia, neuroses, gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, convulsions, dropsy, measles, scarlet fever, laryngitis, gynecological ailments, bronchial asthma, skin diseases, gingivitis, insomnia, flatulence, stomatitis, lumbago, hysteria, rheumatism, myalgia, myositis , gout, sinusitis, tuberculosis, tumor pathologies.
Medicines based on angelica in the fight against various ailments
➡ Bronchitis: barn therapy.
Take twenty grams of dry, finely chopped roots of the plant, and fill the raw material with 300 ml of cold water. Place the container on the stove, bring to a boil and leave to simmer over low heat for fifteen minutes. Remove the mixture from the stove and filter. It is recommended to drink 60 milliliters of the drink four times a day.
➡ Sleep disorders, depression, central nervous system diseases: treatment with infusion. Steam 20 grams of dried, crushed angelica rhizomes in 150 milliliters of boiled water. Seal tightly and store in a dry, warm room for three hours. Filter, take one hundred milliliters of medicine twice a day: at lunch and before going to bed.
➡ Gallstone disease: wolfsroot therapy. Place the dried, crushed roots of the plant in a coffee grinder and grind to a powdery consistency. Brew ten grams of powder in 300 milliliters of boiled water. Stir well to dissolve the powder and set aside for thirty minutes. Take twenty milliliters twice a day, after meals.
➡ Preparation of a drug that helps cleanse the kidneys and treat pyelonephritis. Fill fifteen grams of cowshed seeds with five hundred milliliters of running water and place the composition on the stove. After boiling, leave to simmer over low heat for another ten minutes. Cool, strain the product and drink half a glass every two hours. Among other things, the medicine has a diuretic effect.
➡ Joint diseases: the use of healing baths. Steam two hundred grams of dry, small angelica rhizomes in two liters of boiling water. Close the container tightly and put it in a warm place for 0.5 hours. After the time has passed, pour the mixture into the bath. It is recommended to take such healing baths for twenty minutes, two to three times a week.
➡ Preparing cold medicine. Combine angelica roots in equal proportions with marigolds, chop the raw materials and brew thirty grams of raw materials in four hundred milliliters of boiled water. Place the container in a dry, warm room for five hours. Filter and take 100 ml of medicine twice a day. Be sure to warm the infusion before drinking. If desired, you can add a little natural honey.
➡ Radiculitis, arthritis: treatment with tincture. Finely chop the dry roots of wolfsbane and pour two hundred grams of raw material with vodka or medical alcohol, about six hundred milliliters. Close the container hermetically and put it in a dark, cool place for fifteen days. It is recommended to shake the contents periodically. After time, filter the preparation and pour into a darkened glass container. Use for rubbing and compresses. In addition, the same medicine can be taken for flatulence and colitis - fifteen drops every five hours.
➡ Use of angelica juice. It is recommended to take freshly squeezed juice of the plant for ailments such as pancreatitis and jaundice. One-time dose – a spoonful of juice four times a day. The duration of therapy is twenty days.
And this herb also got an incredibly beautiful Latin name - Angelica archangelica, which is why in some countries angelica is called nothing less than the “holy spirit”. The myth explains that the plant received such an unusual name in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, who, according to legend, told humanity about the beneficial properties of this plant. Today, many have forgotten that angelica can be useful and perceive it solely as a weed.
Botanical description
This biennial plant from the Apiaceae family can grow up to 2 meters in height. Its thick, fleshy and very branched stem is difficult to confuse with other plants. The leaves of angelica are large, dissected into several segments. Throughout the summer, the grass is “preened” with huge white-green umbrella inflorescences, which are very reminiscent of flowering carrots or dill.
Scandinavia is considered the homeland of angelica. For many centuries, this herb served as a source of food and medicine for the inhabitants of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Inuit who inhabited Greenland. Angelica was extremely popular among the Vikings. From the texts of the Icelandic sagas we learned that until the beginning of the 1000s, this plant was protected by a law that prohibited the total collection of angelica. At one time in Norway, this herb was specially grown in gardens.
What's good about angelica?
Laboratory studies have shown that the plant contains, and. All parts of the plant contain healing essential oil. Researchers have isolated more than 20 useful components from the root of this herb. Among them are terpenes, coumarin, (monkshood, fumaric, valerian). Angelica seeds are incredibly rich in essential oils, and leaves are rich in tannins.
Use in folk and traditional medicine
It is believed that angelica was the first medicinal plant to be exported from the northern countries to other parts of Europe. By the 14th century, angelica became known not only to the Scandinavians. He is included in the list of the most respected medicinal plants among herbalists. In the Middle Ages, angelica saved humanity from the plague, and in the 17th-18th centuries - from dysentery, cholera and other intestinal infections. Modern herbalists call angelica a medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of action. Here are some of the benefits of angelica.
Gastrointestinal tract
It is used to eliminate diseases of the digestive system. It is known that this herb stimulates appetite, reduces gas production, relieves intestinal colic, and improves digestion. Angelica has a bactericidal effect on the gastrointestinal tract and increases the production of stomach acid.
Circulation
This herb is very beneficial for people with blood circulation problems. In particular, angelica extract is used to treat Buerger's disease, a pathology accompanied by narrowing of the arteries in the arms and legs.
Respiratory system
Wild celery is an effective expectorant that is used to treat bronchitis, asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system. As a rule, angelica roots are used for this purpose, but it must be said that the stems and seeds are also beneficial for the respiratory system.
Anti-cancer and antioxidant properties
Scientific research has discovered another amazing ability of angelica. It turned out that it has anti-cancer properties. The plant juice has antimutagenic properties, that is, it prevents the degeneration of cells into malignant formations. In addition, the plant has powerful properties that make angelica useful for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Antibacterial effect
The plant has antifungal and antibacterial activity. The dried root powder is used to treat athlete's foot and as a pesticide and insect repellent.
Bone tissue and muscles
Compresses made from crushed angelica leaves are known in folk medicine as a cure for rheumatism, arthritis, gout, and edema. In addition, angelica is used to accelerate bone healing after fractures.
Other properties
German researchers have made their contribution to the study of the abilities of angelica. They have proven the effectiveness of the plant in reducing body temperature during fevers, as a preventive and medicinal remedy for colds, and urinary tract infections. In addition, angelica may be useful in calming an overactive bladder, which is often observed in older people. The special phytonutrients in the herb soothe the bladder from very frequent contractions and prevent frequent urination.
Angelica infusion is useful for gargling with a sore throat. It is also good to use this medicine internally, in particular to treat colds, coughs, pleurisy, to strengthen the heart and reduce blood pressure.
Angelica is useful as a tonic. This drink gives strength and vigor, promotes rapid recovery after serious illnesses. Herbal tea is good to drink in case of lack of appetite and decreased gastric secretion. For women, it is useful for regulating the menstrual cycle, getting rid of PMS symptoms, and restoring the balance of hormones. In addition, a drink made from green leaves should be consumed by people with hypertension, and tea made from angelica roots is a folk remedy for the treatment of alcoholism.
Use in cosmetology
Angelica extract has antibacterial properties, which means that the plant is useful for treating acne. In addition, compresses made from crushed herbs relieve pain in areas of skin inflammation and reduce redness. It is useful to wash your face with a decoction of the root. Such procedures are effective in getting rid of pimples and acne.
Angelica root, as already mentioned, is useful for treating fungal diseases, including skin ones. To do this, it is useful to sprinkle the affected areas with dried angelica root powder. Angelica will not harm healthy skin. Washing with infusions or decoctions of this herb improves complexion, making it soft and velvety. To improve the effect, you can mix angelica extract with aloe juice.
A decoction of the root is also good for hair. Regularly rinsing your curls with this herbal remedy will make them more “alive” and also improve blood circulation in the scalp, and this is an important point for activating the growth of new hair.
Baths with angelica essential oil are useful for swelling of the legs and muscle pain. They also have a calming effect, which makes them useful before bed.
As a result of studies conducted on rats, scientists learned that angelica has sedative properties. Scientists say that this effect is achieved due to the presence of coumarins in the herb. Although it must be said that Indian healers have known about this property of angelica for more than one century.
As for the anti-cancer properties of angelica, researchers believe that the leaves of the plant are most beneficial for treating cancer. In particular, the ability of angelica extract to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells has been proven in vitro.
Another experiment by researchers showed that an alcohol tincture of angelica has a hepatoprotective effect. The tincture cleanses the liver of toxins, protects against oxidative stress and fatty degeneration of cells.
But the essential oil extracted from the roots of the herb has anticonvulsant properties. Researchers attribute this effect to the presence of a large number of terpenes in the oil.
How to use angelica: daily dosage
For treatment and prevention, angelica can be used in different forms. Tea, decoctions, infusions and tinctures from angelica are beneficial for the body. But the main thing here is to maintain adequate doses. Excessive enthusiasm for any medicinal herb, even with such an angelic name, can be harmful.
So, if angelica appears in your diet in the form of an alcohol tincture, then herbalists do not recommend using it more than three times a day, and a single dosage should not exceed 20-40 drops.
It is safer to drink angelica tea. You can prepare a drink from a teaspoon of dried and crushed herb root, which should be poured with a glass of boiling water and left for several minutes. Instead of the root, you can use dried herbs.
Side effects
Even Angelica archangelica has dangerous properties, but only if the rules for using the herb are not followed. As already mentioned, all parts of this plant contain a huge amount of essential oils. In adequate dosage, they are, of course, beneficial for humans. But it is enough to cross the line of the maximum permissible dose and angelica oils turn into toxic substances. It is definitely dangerous for humans to eat fresh angelica root. To get rid of the toxic substances contained in this part of the plant, the root of Angelica archangelica should be dried very thoroughly before use.
Pregnant women (it has abortifacient properties) and nursing mothers should not consume angelica. It is also prohibited to give any part of the herb to children under 2 years of age. Angelica extract should not be used if you have stomach or intestinal ulcers, or if you have diabetes. The juice of the herb, when in contact with the skin, causes allergies in some people and increases sensitivity to UV rays.
And the most important warning. When preparing angelica, it is important to be sure that you are collecting angelica officinalis and not poisonous herbs from the Apiaceae family, which may externally resemble Angelica archangelica. You should also distinguish between medicinal angelica and forest angelica. The second one is also not very suitable as a medicine. The main difference between these varieties is the shape of the inflorescence. If the medicinal flower has small flowers that form a spherical shape, the inflorescence-umbrella of the forest angelica is flat. The medicinal variety of angelica can usually be found on the banks of water bodies.
How to prepare correctly
It is advisable to collect two-year-old medicinal herbs, as they contain the most useful substances. Angelica roots are harvested in early spring, while they retain their healing components in maximum concentration. It is important to take only intact roots. After thorough cleaning, they are cut and dried in a dry, warm room, protected from direct sunlight.
Petioles for salads and other dishes are collected in April-June, when they are the juiciest, and seeds - in September.
Use in cooking
Angelica stems are not only edible, but also very rich in nutrients. In cooking, angelica can be used in the same way as celery. But before consumption, the fleshy stems should be cleared of the outer film, and only the inner pulp should be eaten. When raw, angelica stems have a rather pungent taste, but become more tender when cooked.
Dried roots and seeds of angelica as a spice go well with meat, vegetable dishes and all kinds of sauces.
For centuries, the French have used this plant in the preparation of liqueurs. They added greens to the drink as an aromatic component.
In the culinary field it is known from angelica. It differs from other species in its unusual color (it is a green substance) and the ability not to crystallize until spring. This product is known for its rich chemical composition and healing properties. In particular, it is useful for insomnia, nervous disorders, rheumatism and even epilepsy.
If you boil the crushed roots of angelica in sugar syrup, and then add it to the brew and cook a little more, you will get an original jam. And in the hands of skilled confectioners, angelica roots are transformed into candied fruits, marshmallows, jams, and pie fillings.
As you can see, behind the very ordinary appearance of angelica there is an extremely interesting and useful plant. So next time, when fighting weeds in the garden, take a closer look to see if there is angelica among these herbs. After all, now you know exactly how to use it effectively.