Witnessed by: Western
Angelica (Angelica archangelica), of the Apiaceae family. Tall stout aromatic biennial with great umbels of green-white flowers; native range: damp northern Europe, from cool riversides to the far north. Globally recognized as garden angelica, archangel, holy ghost root, wild celery in English. The part used is root, seed, leaf and candied stem. Whole plant richly aromatic, the root warm, sweetish and pungently bitter with a musky celery scent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ANGELICA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- angelica
- Scientific name
- Angelica archangelica L.
- Family
- Apiaceae
Form
- Part used
- root, seed, leaf and candied stem
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- aromatic · pungent · bitter · sweet
Temperature
- Western
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- digestion · lungs · circulation
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- warming carminative, expectorant, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, digestive tonic, emmenagogue
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy (emmenagogue); care in diabetes as it may raise blood sugar
Toxicity: the furanocoumarins may cause photosensitivity with strong doses and sunlight
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: coumarin constituents may add to anticoagulant action · photosensitising drugs: furanocoumarins may compound photosensitivity
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