Angelica

Angelica, Angelica archangelica, is more than just candied angelica or statement plant for the back of the flower garden. It is also an amazing medicinal herb. Mine's in flower and looks kind of like a triffid. The pollinators (mainly various types of flies) are drawn to it. I should self sow but I will harvest seed to multiply it.

It is a biennial, so it flowers in its second year before it dies off. It likes semi shade and damp areas. It is a member of the carrot family which includes parsely, anise and fennel.

This herb has a long history of use with it documented in legal texts as far back as 12th Century. It was in Four Thieves vinegar and it was believed to be effective against the Black Plague. It was thought in Medievel times to be an antipoison or antidote too so it was added to foods.

In Norse tradition, it was thought of as a sacred herb. Considering herbs need to be hardy to grow in Scandanavia, this one fitted the bill. It was used like a European adaptogen. It grows through much of Northern Europe. It is also a close relative to Dong Quai or Chinese angelica which is used in both TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Western herbalism.

The religious botanical name is thought to be from the Archangel Michael telling a 14th Century monk that it would ward off the plague. Any herb that has a religious name is thought to be a special herb.

It has a pleasant smell and is used in digestive bitters, perfumes and liqueurs like vermouth and to flavour gin. As I said, the stems are used candied and the leaves are used to flavour food.

Harvest stems and leaves in early summer and roots in autumn of its first year's growth. Seeds are harvested in summer as they dry. It can be used fresh or dried with the leaves generally used dried.

Please note: due to some members of this family being highly toxic you need to ensure you have the correct herb rather than something like hemlock.

It is a warming bitter and has an affinity with nerve pain, nerve fibres and rheumatism. It also is thought to support the digestive system, respiratory tract, circulation, women's health and immunity. It is considered to be a blood tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and emmenagogue.

Angelica is currently in flower in my garden