Page 156 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

year, the plant puts out leaves, but most of its growth Preserve them in sugar or candy them for use as a dec-
and its flowering stage occurs in the second year. It oration on sweet treats.
grows from 4 to 6 feet (1.2m – 1.8m) tall and occasion- Angelica root must be dried and preserved for later
ally up to 10 feet tall (3m), with large dark green bipin- use. Do not use it fresh.
nate leaves. Each leaf contains many leaflets, divided
into three main groups. Medicinal Use: The entire plant is used medici-
nally. Leaves, stems, and flowers are crushed and used
in a bath or as a poultice. The medicine from the roots
is best extracted using alcoholic tinctures. Roots can be
dried and powdered for medicinal use.
Respiratory Issues: The herb is well known as an
expectorant and is used to treat bronchitis, asthma,
colic, coughs, and the common cold. The root is best
used for respiratory ailments, but stems and seeds are
also usable when necessary. A tincture or a tea will
work as an expectorant.
Digestive Aid, Stimulates Appetite, and In-
testinal Infections: Angelica stimulates the appe-
tite, improves digestion, soothes colic, and reduces the
Photo By Franz Xaver, CC by SA 3.0 production of intestinal gas. It also increases the pro-
duction of stomach acid. It has been used as a cure for
Each subdivision is further divided into three groups. the plague, dysentery, cholera and intestinal infec-
The leaves are finely serrated. The lower leaves are the tions. The herb is anti-bacterial and kills the bacteria
largest, up to 2 feet wide (0.6m). The leaf stalks are that cause many gastric illnesses, like E. coli.
flattened and fluted. Stems are curved inward with
sheathing that forms an elongated bowl that holds wa- Nerve Pain: Rub angelica directly on the skin to
ter. Stems are dark purple, round, smooth and hollow treat neuralgia or nerve pain. It acts as an anesthetic.
and are 1 to 2 inches (2.5cm-5cm) across. Joint Pain: The anti-inflammatory properties of An-

The small, plentiful white, yellowish, or greenish-white gelica are useful for treating arthritis, gout, swelling,
flowers grow in large, compound umbels, up to 6 and for broken bones. For joint pain, a poultice made
inches wide (15cm). The star-shaped flowers appear in from crushed leaves is effective.
July after the second year.
Anti-Seizure Effects: Recent studies show that
The fruit are small, oblong and pale yellow. Each is 1/6 Angelica archangelica protects the body against chem-
to 1/4 inch (0.4cm – 0.6cm) in length when ripe and ically induced seizures. Angelica essential oil exhibits
they reside in round heads that are up to 8 to 10 inches
(20cm – 25cm) in diameter.

The root is branched, thick, and fleshy with small root-
lets. The root is 3 to 6 inches (7.5cm – 15 cm) long.

Edible Use: The fresh root is rumored to be poison-
ous, but cooked and crystalized pieces of root and stem
are used as decorative pieces for cakes and are used for
flavoring in alcoholic beverages.

Young shoots and leaves are edible raw or cooked. The
flavor is sweet and similar to celery with a slight lico-
rice taste. Use the shoots in salads or boil them like a
pot herb. Use angelica stems when young and tender.

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