What is Wild Angelica?

The name "Wild Angelica" correctly applies to Angelica sylvestris , a plant belonging to the Umbelliferae family, which includes many edible species and herbs and spices such as carrots, parsnips, celery, Petrsley, Koriander, Kmin and Fennel. It is located most of Europe and Western Asia and Siberia. The plant is closely related to the larger Angelica, Angelica Archangelica , which is originally from Scandinavia and some Arctic regions, and with American Angelica, Angelica atropurpurea , which occurs in Eastern North America and is distinguished by its purple stems. All three species have edible leaves, stems and fruit and have healing properties; The name "Wild Angelica" was applied to all freely. Edible and healing properties are the most significant in a. Archangelica , which is often grown.Ng 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m) in height. It has hollow, ribbed stems, folded leaves with distinctive inflated vagina and a large, tubular root. During the summer he produces umbel of small whitish flowers,followed by oval fruit resembling seeds called Merocarps. The plant prefers damp, semi -bed areas and does not grow in acid soils.

leaves and stems can be used in salads and roots, if it is cooked, it is also edible. Pieces of stem canned in sugar are used in cakes and confectionery. The plant is aromatic and rich in essential oils that can be extracted, usually distillation of steam. Aromatic oils extracted from Angelica are used in perfumes and cosmetic products, as well as aroma. A number of alcoholic beverages, including Vermut and Chartreuse, are flavored by Angelica.

In the folklore, Angelica is reportedly offered to protect against evil spirits to be used a lot in pre -Christian ceremonies and rituals. After the arrival of Christianity, it became associated with St. Michael and sometimes referred to as "the root of the Holy Spirit". During the Middle Ages it was assumed to protect against "black death"or bubonic plague.

While its effectiveness against black death is doubtful, Wild Angelica contains a number of compounds of healing interest, some of which have antimicrobial properties. Angelica is widely used in herbal medicine, acts as carminative, diaphoretic and expectorant and has been used to relieve pain and for the treatment of colds, coughs and fever. Commercial culinary and therapeutic use Angelica is now largely limited to cultivated and. Archangelica .

Angelica can be grown quite easily from the seed, even if it should be quickly sown because they soon lose their power to germinate. In the wild it is usually the biennial, blooms in the second year and dies after the SEED setting; However, it can be cultivated as a perennial by removing the flower heads before creating fruit. Wild Angelica is not normally cultivated, but has some of the edible and healing properties of a cultivated plant.