Angelica
Profile
| Latin Name | Angelica archangelica |
| Chinese Name | Not Known |
| Family | Apiaceae/Umbelliferae |
| Note | Base |
| Aroma | <Soft> Musky |
| Color | Pale Yellow to Amber |
| Parts Distilled | Roots or Seeds (Absolute) |
| Regions | Belgium, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland |
| Taste | Sweet, slightly Bitter |
| Nature | Warming |
| Affinity | LR, LU, SP |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Monoterpenes, ketones |
| Skin Type | Can irritate skin |
| Dosage | 6% dilution seeds, root 4% |
Also produced as an absolute (see About Absolutes).
TCM Categories
Functions
- Tonify Lung and Spleen qi, for loss of
- Appetite, fatigue, weak limbs abdominal bloating, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and depression
- Nourish blood and calm the shen
- Open the diaphragm to ease cough and to expel phlegm, relaxes the liver to move blood or invigorate blood
- Regulates Liver overacting on the Spleen and Stomach
Indications
- Liver Overacting on the Spleen/Stomach with food-induced headaches, nausea, belching, epigastric cramping, intercostal distention, cirrhosis (LR-13, LR-3, GB 34, SP-6)
- Deficient Lung & Spleen Qi (BL-13, BL-20, BL-21, LU-1, CV-12. ST-36, SP-3, CV-6)
- Deficient Heart Blood (BL-17, BL-15, HT-7, HT-5, PC-6)
Topical Applications
- Apply as a liniment to improve blood circulation, blending Angelica, Frankincense, Rosemary, and Helichrysum. This blend is also a bit of an aphrodisiac
Other Applications
- Diffuse to invite the presence of divine angelic beings. Add Rosemary to "elevate" its note.
Specific Protocols
- Apply a 6% dilution blend of Angelica (50%), Coriander (20%), Tangerine (20%), Cumin (10%) to tonify qi and nourish blood.
Actions
- Tonic
- Stomachic (promoting the appetite or assisting digestion)
- Expectorant
- Diuretic
Contraindications & Cautions
- Root oil is photosensitive (bergaptene)
- Psoralens will produce skin rashes
- Not for pregnancy (root)
- Not for pre-pubescent children
Notes
- Ward off evil spirits
- Good for sleep
- Inward focus
- Connects to the divine
- Aphrodisiac
- Angelica can connect us deeply with the divine and reflect that connection within us. It encourages inner reflection, helps people slow down and relax, lets the liver relax and begin to nourish blood, and helps with sleep
- Treats self-pity and suspicion
- Creates an inward focus (seed)
- Angelica (root) with oakmoss can help a clinging patient notice it, the one who insists they cannot do it on their own when you know they can
- Chong mai affinity
- Calms the shen by nourishing the blood
Additional Comments
- Angelica is a good oil for convalescence and for the elderly, but overuse can cause nervousness.
- Fresh root is toxic but drying neutralizes the toxicity.
- Angelica increases red blood cells and thrombosis
- Angelica root - Dang gui
- Draws people to you, makes you inviting. Opens the diaphragm
- Moves and invigorates the blood
- Promotes honesty, sometimes to the point of being blunt
- Can be hypnotic especially combined with florals
- With oakmoss, helps someone notice that they are clinging to you
- Ren 22 difficulty speaking, stuttering, or speaking your truth
- Angelica seed
- The seeds are not used in Chinese Medicine
- Helps us connect with the angelic quality in our own blood
- More of a diuretic than the root
- Blends well with citrus and top notes
- Helps to promote sleep by nourishing the liver and liver blood
- Helpful with fertility issues, Qi stagnation, tonifying, and nourishes blood
From Class
- Angelica / Dang Gui essential oil (base note): Base note for blood stagnation. (Yuen)