Scientific Name angélica angelica archangelica GRASS OF THE ANGELS
Other Names:
Ajonjera, Grass of the Spirit Santo, Grass of the Angels, Root of Long Life
It is a typical northern plant. In Greenland he forms great extensions, and their inhabitants abundantly use it from remote times. To not being Mediterranean plant, he could not be registered by the great doctors and botanists of the classic antiquity. He began himself to use in Europe in the Average Age, during the great epidemics of plague. Many stinked out desperately looked for it like the last remedy before surrendering to the death, since a legend had propagated, according to which arcángel Gabriel showed a wise person ermitaño to it, so that it could fight the plague. For that reason monks and friars cultivated it in their convents, with the purpose of elaborating with her diverse types of remedies, unfortunately all in form of alcoholic licor.
Habitat: original of the north of Europe and Asia, although their culture and its use have extended everywhere. It prefers the cold and humid places, near rivers and marshes.
Description: it plants herbaceous of the family of the Umbelíferas, that usually measures 1-2 m of height. His
stem heavy and is channeled, in whose end are the flowers distributed in form of umbela. Certain risk exists of confusing it with cicuta, that also belongs to the same family, although their differences are significant. In addition the Angelica gives off an pleasant sharp aroma between and dulzón, whereas the one of cicuta is very disagreeable.
Used parts: the root mainly, and also the tender leaves and the seeds.
Properties and indications: the Angelica recommended itself for one long list of ailments, from the plague to reuma, as if a panacea he was. Their active principles are the felandreno, of digestive and espasmolítica action, and the angelicina, that a sedative and balancing action exerts on the nervous system. To these two active principles they must his authentic medicinal properties:
Digestive and carminativa: it is a great stimulating tonic and of the functions of the digestive apparatus. It increases the appetite, it facilitates the digestion, it increases the secretion of gastric juice, and eliminates intestinal gases and fermentations. It is the plant par excellence for the inapetentes, debilitated and dispépticos. It is very indicated for those who suffer of fallen or atónico stomach (gastric ptosis). It gives good results in case of jaqueca of digestive origin.
Balancing Tonificante and of the nervous system: It is very useful in the cases from depressions, neurosis and nervous weakness. It is also recommended to students at time of examinations, people with stress, convalescent of debilitating diseases, and, in general, to all those that they have to surpass some difficult test.
The baths with Angelica water have a very healthful effect on the nervous system.
It also has diuréticos and expectorantes effects, although of smaller intensity than the previous ones.
Use: in infusion or decocción that is made with the crushed root, that is the active part but of the plant, at the rate of 20 to 30 grams by liter of water. Also to tender leaves and seeds can be added. A cup is taken from tisane before each food, up to 3 to the day.
For external use, it is used in baths with a decocción with 100 grams of plant in a liter of water, that is added to the bath water.
Precautions: it is important not to prepare licores with this plant, since the injurious effects - due to his elevated alcoholic content they surpass to his possible medicinal properties.