The Use Of Angelica Officinalis In Official And Folk Medicine

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Angelica officinalis

As a child, cutting off part of the angelica stem to get the green tube we needed (there were no plastic tubes at that time), we did not think at all what kind of plant it was, and whether there could be any good from it.

For us, rural children, its benefit was that with the help of this green hollow trunk it was possible to send a dry pea far forward with a strong exhalation of air. Yes, we shot with peas - it was fun.

And only later from the books did I learn that in the same way, with the help of plant pipes (air gun), the Indians of South America hunted and fought with enemies, hitting them with poisoned arrows.

We knew nothing more about angelica. Sometimes, however, pipes were made from it, but they were not very durable, it was much easier to make a pipe from a willow branch.

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Much later I learned a lot of other information about this tall, beautiful plant. It turns out that angelica is a popular name that was given to it in our country, and it would be correct to call it angelica. And not just an angelica, but a medicinal angelica.

And the people also have many other names for this plant - wolf pipe, piper, angelica, angelica, meadow pipe, and most of them, apparently, are associated with the possibility of making a musical instrument from it - pipe. Probably, this name was given to him by shepherds who spent whole days in nature. And making pipes was a kind of entertainment for them in the monotonous flow of time.

Angelica officinalis is common in the European part of our country. Since he loves moisture, then most often this beautiful useful plant can be found along the banks of rivers and streams, in moist alder forests, in ravines, in thickets of bushes. Angelica is useful not only because it is medicinal.

The young parts of the plant - the leaves and the stem (before flowering) were used before and now knowledgeable people use them for making salads, jam, jam. I use the rhizome and roots of Angelica officinalis in the form of a fragrant powder as a spice for cooking, baking, confectionery, and canning.

In the northern countries of Europe, and in our country too, angelica is grown both for the production of medicinal raw materials and for the needs of the food and alcoholic beverage industry. It is not difficult to grow angelica, for example, with seeds, because in autumn they can be collected from each plant up to half a kilogram. One has only to prepare fertile soil with a neutral reaction - and you can sow. The main thing is not to forget about regular moistening of crops.

And now in more detail about some of the features of this plant.

Angelica officinalis (Archangelica officinalis) is a biennial herb belonging to the Umbrella family. In the first year of life, it is rather inconspicuous - a root rosette of small leaves emerges from the ground, but the next year the angelica unfolds in all its glory. It forms large complex two- and three-lobed leaves on a long petiole near the ground, reaching a length of up to 80 cm, the leaves located on the stem are much smaller in size.

A single long hollow stem emerges from the center of the rosette; it branches out in the upper part. Depending on the availability of moisture and the quality of the soil (loves neutral and slightly acidic, fertile) the height of the stem can vary from one to two and a half meters.

At the top of the main stem and on the lateral branches, inflorescences are formed - umbrellas, which have an almost spherical shape. The main umbrella is the largest, it can reach up to 15 cm in diameter. In summer, from June to August, a lot of white-green-yellow flowers open on the umbrellas, and by autumn rather large two-seedlings ripen there, each of which then breaks down into half-fruits.

Angelica officinalis has a powerful short rhizome shaped like a small radish and numerous adventitious roots. When the rhizome is cut, a milky yellowish-white juice is released.

Since all parts of this plant contain essential oils, it emits a strong, pleasant scent.

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Medicinal properties of Angelica officinalis

Angelica officinalis

It is the presence of essential oils and other substances that explains the medicinal properties of angelica.

Roots and rhizomes contain an essential oil, also called angelic, which includes pinene, felandren, sesquiterpene compounds, umbelliprenin, xanthotoxin, methylbutyric and hydroxypentadecanoic acids, as well as malic and angelic acids, ostol, ostenol, bergaptenels, angelicin, phythanger tannins, vitamin C, carotene, calcium, phosphorus and other minerals.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes and roots of angelica are mainly used. They can be harvested after the first growing year in the fall or early spring of the second growing year.

Rhizomes and roots are dug up, cleaned from the ground, washed with cold water, cut across into lobes and dried in ventilated rooms or in dryers (temperature up to + 35 ° C) until brittle. Since the raw materials contain essential oil, it must be stored in a tightly sealed container. When harvesting rhizomes and roots, you must avoid getting juice on open areas of the body. In the sun, it can burn the skin.

The leaves and shoots of angelica are also harvested - after the flowering of the plant, and in the fall - its ripe seeds, in which there is the most essential oil.

In pharmacies, you can purchase crushed and dried roots and rhizomes of angelica for medicinal needs.

Angelica galenic preparations (medicines obtained from plant materials by extraction (extraction) are tinctures (alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic extracts or extracts) have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic and diaphoretic effect. The most active substance in angelica is essential oil, which, getting into the digestive tract, has a slight irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, causing an increase in gastric secretion, and gives an antispasmodic effect.

When absorbed, the essential oil is partially secreted by the bronchial glands, increasing their secretion and exerting a bactericidal and antispasmodic effect on the respiratory tract. And the diuretic and diaphoretic effect of Angelica officinalis is explained by the presence of organic acids in it.

Angelica root, possessing antispasmodic properties, is effective in flatulence. Its antimicrobial properties help suppress intestinal fermentation processes. Angelica root extract also has a soothing effect.

Angelica medicinal preparations are used for biliary dyskinesia. After treatment, the patients' appetite improves, belching, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain disappear.

Angelica is also used as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent for laryngitis, pneumonia and bronchitis. Decoctions, infusions and tinctures, teas are prepared from it.

Decoction of angelica roots

Angelica root and rhizome in pharmacy

To obtain it, 3 tablespoons of dry raw material of angelica rhizomes and roots (10 g) are poured into an enamel bowl and poured with one glass of boiling water (200 ml). The dishes are closed with a lid and placed in a water bath for half an hour.

Then the broth is cooled for 10 minutes at room temperature, filtered. The volume of the resulting liquid is brought to the original (200 ml) with boiled water. This broth is stored in a cool place for no more than two days.

Use the broth hot - as an antispasmodic, appetite-stimulating, expectorant and diaphoretic - three times a day for half a glass.

Angelica root infusion

To obtain it, one tablespoon of dry rhizomes and roots is poured with one glass of boiling water (200 ml), the dishes are closed and insisted for three hours at room temperature. Then the liquid is filtered and taken for neuroses, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, vegetative dystonia, neuralgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, half a glass twice a day half an hour before meals.

Angelica tincture

It is practiced in folk medicine. Prepared from angelica rhizomes, infused with alcohol or vodka: two tablespoons of dry crushed rhizomes are placed in a dark dish and poured with vodka (200 ml). Insist in a dark place for 8-10 days, then filter the liquid, squeeze the raw material. This tincture is used externally for rubbing for joint diseases, rheumatism, gout, radiculitis.

Healing powder of angelica rhizomes

It is used in folk medicine for flatulence, gastritis, colitis, with decreased secretion of the pancreas, and diseases of the bladder. Dry rhizomes and roots are ground into powder with a coffee grinder or in a mortar. Then 0.5 g of this powder is poured into a glass of water and taken 2-3 times a day.

Contraindications

Angelica medicinal preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding of the comb, with individual intolerance to this plant, with diabetes mellitus.

It is worth refraining from taking angelica preparations for diarrhea and tachycardia, as well as with reduced blood clotting. In any case, before starting treatment, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.

In addition, as noted above, angelica juice can cause burns and dermatitis if it comes into contact with exposed skin on sunny days.

E. Valentinov