-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
herb
Angelica archangelica (Angelica)
botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Angelica archangelica
synonyms: angelica, European angelica, garden angelica, masterwort, root of the Holy Ghost, engelwurzel, heiligenwurzel, angelique
part(s) used: root, leaf and seed
qualities: aromatic, pungent, bitter, sweet, warm, dry
affinities: lungs, intestines, stomach, urinary system, uterus and head
actions: carminative, diuretic, emetic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, alterative, expectorant and tonic
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
» root: 0.5 - 2 g
therapy:
» external: as a fomentation in tumefactions and swellings
» internal: enteric fever; chronic rheumatic complaints; gout; malarial intermittents; chronic bronchitis (Felter and Lloyd, p. 267); respiratory catarrh; psychogenic asthma; flatulent dyspepsia; anorexia nervosa; peripheral vascular disease (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 27)
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b
toxicity: 1
» use with caution during pregnancy (Farnsworth)
» photosensitivity may occur due to isopsoralene angelicins (Keeler and Tu, p. 354), fresh plant may cause vesicular dermatitis (Duke, p. 43)
» Due to gastric acid-stimulating effect, avoid in cases of peptic ulcer. (De Smet)
constituents: essential oil, angelica acid, coumarin compounds, bitter principle, tannins, isopsoralene angelicins
» contains between 0.3 - 1% volatile oil including phellandrene, pinene, limonene, caryophyllene, linalool, borneol, and acetylaldehyde
» the plant is high in coumarins, including osthole (0.2% in roots), angelicin, osthenol, umbelliferone, archangelicin, bergapten, ostruthol, and xanthotoxin

» the plant acids in Angelica are angelic, aconitic, citric, malic, and oxalic
» also contains resins, starches and a flavonone called archangelenone.[1,2,3]

drug interactions: none in literature



footnotes

British Herbal Medical Association. 1983. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. West Yorks, England: The British Herbal Medical Association.

De Smet PAGM et al. (eds.). 1993. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2, Berlin: Springer-Verlag

Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.

Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.

Felter, H. W.; Lloyd, J. U. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983.

Holmes, Peter. The Energetics of Western Herbs. Boulder, CO: Artemis Press, 1989, p.275.


Keeler, R.F., and Tu, A.T. 1983. Handbook of Natural Toxins. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Leung, AY. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc., 1980. p.28.


Moerman, DE. Medicinal Plants of Native America. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, Technical Reports, Number 19, 1986, Vol.1, p.37.

Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications. Santa Barbara, CA: Woodbridge Press Publ. Co., 1980. p.24.


Thastrup, O, et al. Coronary vasodilatory, spasmolytic and cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitory properties of dihydropyanocoumarins and dihydrofuranocoumarins. Acta Pharmacol et Toxicol 52:246-53;1983.


Tierra, Michael. Planetary Herbology. Santa Fe, NM: Lotus Press, 1988, p.148.