Angelica atropurpurea - Angelica

Umbilliferae Family - "Angelica, American Angelica, High Angelica, Common Angelica, Seacoast Angelica, Alexander's Angelica, Masterwort Aromatic, Scurvy Pea, Slim-flowered Scurvy Pea, Alexanders, Archangel, Aunt Jericho, Bellyache Root, Dead Nettle, Great Angelica, Masterwort, Purple-stem Angelica, Wild Celery"

Angelica from an early legend telling of an angel revealing the medicinal properties of this plant to a monk during one of Euope's periodic Middle Age plagues.

A relatively rare find today in swampy woodlands of the northern Tallgrass region. Tiny green-white flowers in large round heads from May to September. Can grow to 6 feet with a hollow smooth purple-colored stem.

The stalks of this species were eaten like celery and it is said the flavor was very similar. Early settlers boiled portions of Angelica in sugar syrup to make a type of candy. They also used it as an ingredient in cakes. However, if you didn't know exactly what you were picking, you were headed for big trouble; it is very similar to the deadly water hemlock. In line with that, it is reported (most likely a confusion with water hemlock) that the roots were eaten by some Native Americans to commit suicide. If the roots of Angelica are poisonous, they must lose their toxicity when dried because the dried roots of this species were used as an emergency food source and had limited medicinal uses. The dried roots were pulverized and used to treat cold symptoms, rheumatism, fevers, urinary troubles and other related disorders.

In Appalchia, the root is still harvested in the fall for winter use. The volatile oils of Angelica are still used there to treat colic and gas.

The Native Americans of Arkansas smoked the leaves with tobacco. The Meskwaki of this area boiled the whole plant to make a tea for treating hay fever. Some Native Americans made a strong tea from the root to induce vomiting or discharge mucus from the respiratory tract. The root was also given for treatment of tuberculosis and consumption. The tea functioned well for kidney problems (unspecified), digestive difficulties, colic, hysteria, to kill and expel worms and for back problems. The tea also worked quite well as a mouthwash.

One of the oldest known poultices in North America was made by mashing the roots of A. archangelica with the pounded leaves of Artemesia canadensis. The whole mass was heated and applied to the body on the opposite side of where the pain was emanating. The same poultice was also quite effective at reducing swelling. Poultices of Angelica root by itself were used to treat arthritis, chest discomfort and pneumonia.

Small pieces scraped from the root were used to releve coughing and sore throat and bronchitis. The root scrapings were also smoked to clear the head of stuffiness during colds.

Root teas were relied upon for treating lingering ilnesses, especially in children. Adecoction from the simmered root was enjoyed as a tonic three times a day by Rocky Mountain Indians; the tonic was also given for building up strength after an illness by both Native Americans and early settlers.

An early physician once maintained that eating 15 to 60 grains of the dried root once a day would cure alcoholism. Still others claimed that a small amount of the dried root dissolved in wine would curb sexual appetites.