Benefits and Properties of Angelica Essential Oil
Botanical names Angelica officinalis - angel root, A. archangelica - garden root, A. sylvestris - wild or gout weed
Family Umbelliferae
Place of origin Northern Europe, now also in Hungary, Germany, and Belgium
Plant Description This plant is a biannual that likes humid climate and rapidly grows to a little over 6 feet tall with a very thick main stem and bipinnate or tripinnate leaves that spread from the stem with a very deeply set strong root system. During July and August it is crowned with yellow to greenish-white umbel flowers with a honey-like fragrance. The whole plant has a very strong distinctive aroma.
Essential Oil Extracted by water distillation from dried or fresh root. The oil almost clear when freshly distilled darkening to a yellow or yellowish-brown color. It has a pleasant and rich earthy, pepper-like, spicy strong aroma. It can also be extracted from the seeds but the properties are slightly different than the oil from the root.
Yield For one pound of oil you need about 340 pounds of plant material
Containes Mainly phellandrene (up to 70%), along with a-pinen, osthenol, osthol, angelicine, bergaptene, exaltolid, and various acids like methylaethylacid
Blends well with< tea tree, lemongrass, bergamot, clary sage, juniper, Swiss pine, ocean pine
Safety photosensitive, do not use on areas exposed to the sun or it may cause skin irritation
Beneficial Effects - Physical antiseptic, digestion stimulant and stomach tonic, immune stimulant, aids blood cell formation, blood cleansers
Specific Conditions – Physical infections, motion sickness, stomach ulcers, flu, poor blood circulation, physical weakness, flatulence, gastritis, hiccups, weak digestion, loss of appitite
Beneficial Effects – Mental balancing
Specific Conditions – Mental hopelessness, weakness, frigidity, anxiety, nervous stomach
Since ancient times angelica has been known as a medicinal plant and got its name because of its great healing powers seemed to be of a divine source (an alternate name was Holy Spirit Root).
It was credited for giving protection from the Plague.
With more than 30 varieties growing all over the world, ten or more being in China, all having some medicinal purposes. In the West one known as Dong Kwai has been used for a natural hormone therapy during menopause.
This tall strong plant will help you find your own inner strength. With its pleasant scent you can blend it with many other oils or lotions and is very soothing on the skin.
Strength you mind and spirit, find inner strength and stamina by using angelica essential oil in an aroma lamp or diffuser. Or just put a drop on a tissue or your hand and rub together and inhale deeply. Good to use for nausea or anxiety when traveling.
It can be used as a sedative affecting the adrenal gland. Use as a nose polyps, inhaling the oil deeply or using in an internal nose bath (dilute a drop in four ounces of water and gently draw into the nose cavity).
Angelica oil is commercially used in many liqueurs and aperitifs like Chartreuse for one example, which makes it a good stomach tonic to go with your meal.
It is a known carminative (expelling gas) and is good for a weak stomach and the digestive system, dyspepsia, flatulence, and nervous gastritis as it stimulates the digestive juices.
The calming effect of the oil is beneficial since a lot of stomach problems are caused from anxiety.
Take before a meal as a tonic (add a drop or two on a piece of bread or add to a little alcohol. Do not add any honey or sweetner as the bitterness of the oil is important.
It is useful for loss of appetite and has been used for anorexia.
Take the angelica essential oil in a propolis infusion (Propolis is a resinous waxy substance collected by bees, it stimulates your immune system and kills germs without destroying the intestinal flora.)to stimulate your immune system and fight against offending germs, from intestinal or virus infections, or the flu.
Take a drop or two orally during the flu season to guard against the virus and use in a diffuser to disinfect the air, especially where there is a group of people with the flu.
Angelica helps with many kinds of respiratory infections – the common cold, sinus infections, bronchitis, and dry, irritating cough. Use in a aroma lamp, diffuser or add to a carrier oil or salve to rub over chest, sinus, etc.
It is good for many kinds of long lasting, strength-depleting illnesses, after an operation or childbirth, rickets, or a weak heart.
The bitter tasting substances contained in this oil helps in preventing cancer, it also supports the formation of healthy blood cells.
Do you have poor blood circulation? It is an effective stimulate for circulation. Put it in a carrier oil and use in a massage or add to a full or sitz bath, it is particularly helpful with lower extremites circulatory problems.
Another thing Angelica is good for is as a detoxifier and diuretic. It aids the liver, kidneys, skin and all organs of elimination improves lymph drainage. Use in a massage oil for a helpful message for arthritis, rheumatism, water retention or cellulite.
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