Angelica
Angelica archangelica
Apiaceae
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Angelica
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Angelica archangelica
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Apiaceae
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It is commonly known as European Angelica,
Garden Angelica or simply Angelica. The Latin name comes from
Angel and Archangel, due to an old legend about a monk, who got the message
from the Archangel to make use of this biennial herb against pest. One
legend relates the miracle to archangel Michael (to be celebrated at the springtime
Michaelmas (8th of May) when the Angelica is flowering in Southern Europe. The
other legend to Gabriel! Perhaps both legends are right, because the Angelica
is a herb for almost everything.
In Norway this plant is among the first used garden plants ever known.
From the Saga of Olav Tryggvason - related to the early spring of the year 1000
-, the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturlason tells about the king's love
for his wife with a quite romantic story, where we in a snapshot find the king
coming back to the King's courtyard, having bought Angelica stalks for his wife.
Alas queen Tyra was then definitely not of the same cheery mood. Rather neurotic
she utters her relatives in the South to be richer and braver. She would rather
urge him to sail out on a dangerous venture to her former homeland and come
back with her legitimate inherited property. It ended tragic for one of the
most popular kings of our history. But the incident gives us a hint that the
Angelica was in common use for tasteful delight even then.
The Norwegian name, Kvann, is older then the Angel legend, and
it could be traced in many place names, like e.g. Kvanndal and Kvanngrø.
Angelica roots are been used in need of tobacco by Indians in the US and Canada,
as well as to snuff by the Laplanders. The linguistic origin from the legend
is found in the Germans' names, Engel, Engelwurz, Angelika,
Erzengel, Heiligengeist, Dreieinigkeit - and in the French: Angélique.
Drug
(Nomen pharmacopoea): Angelicae Radix; Herba Angelica
Harvesting: Like all biennials it sets
flowers and seeds the second year, and should be harvested then. Consequently
the flower stalks can only be cut after the second year of growth. The roots
are most rich the first late autumn.
Contentions: cumarines,
essential oils, bitters,
tannic acid;
plant acids.
Medical use: The roots from Angelica are
diuretic, and they are used to treat ailments of the chest and the digestion.
One may use one teaspoon of the drogue in a big cup boiling water before the
meals.
Vaporized Angelica Root may also help relieve symptoms associated with colds,
coughs and bronchitis.
Other use: Angelica Root is often used
by culinary professionals in flavoring foods and alcoholic and soft drinks.
All parts promote perspiration, and the Angelica is the main flavoring of liquors
as Chartreuse and Benedictine. Because of its diuretic powers it is among the
important components of most of the digestion liquors. The stakes can be candied
and are popular in Spain and France.
Angelica gives fragrance component in soaps, lotions and perfumes or colognes.
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Angelica tea
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1 table spoon drug |
