Angelica

What is Angelica?  Is it poisonous?  Does it help respiratory issues?  Does it help relive headaches?  Is it edible? Can it help you quit smoking?  Also, get some updates on CBD creams and Home Run.

Music composed and performed by V. Karaitis

Transcript

Hey!  Thanks for listening!  I’m Chris Wagenti, and this is Who Gets It, Naturally.  Music was composed and performed by V. Karaitis.    I’m not selling anything, diagnosing anything; offering any cures or replacing your doctor.  I’m just sharing my passion for natural products.  If you’re pregnant, please consult your doctor before trying anything new.  Everyone is different so you may need to tweak the recipes a bit to work for you.  Always start with the least amount of essential oils…you can always add, you can’t take away.  Remember, these remedies don’t last forever, you need to reapply as needed.  If you are allergic to any of the ingredients I use, please substitute for something you’re not allergic to.  Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean you can’t be allergic to it.

First, I want to update a few things.  Let’s start with Home Run – a few episodes ago I mentioned that I ran out of Douglas Fir and Wintergreen and substituted with other Essential Oils (Spearmint, Cypress).  Well, I replenished my stash, and faced another issue.  Refilling 10 ml roller bottles is not easy.  The hard part is getting the roller cap off, even with the special tool that’s available.  And when you have 6 bottles to refill at a time, it can get, well, tedious.  So, I tried something new.  One ounce is equal to about 30 ml.  (it’s like 29.8something ml to an ounce)  I found a 1-ounce amber Boston round, dug out a solid cap and tripled the Home Run recipe.  I keep that on my nightstand and instead of rolling it on what aches, I put my middle finger (‘cause it’s the widest) over the opening, turn the bottle upside down, then back up, and massage the oil left on my finger over the aches.  Lately, it’s been my knees while I’m trying to sleep.  I guess when your hips are out of whack lying down messes with your knees.  I still apply some to my neck and behind my ears…it releases the tension in my neck and clears my sinuses so I can breathe.

One more update – CBD creams.  My doctor sells stuff he knows works in his office.  A while ago, he gave me some CBD cream and asked me to try it.  Since it was pricy, he wanted a broader test range to see if it was worth carrying.  I did try it.  It worked, however, no better than any of the oils I’m already using, and I noticed it took a few applications before I actually felt relief.  I brought it to work with me & let the girls I work with know what it was and offered to let them try it if they wanted.  One of the girls had broken her foot a while back and it was bothering her.  She was interested in trying CBD, so I told her to go for it.  She was impressed.  She quickly felt a cooling sensation, and the pain subsided.  One of the other girls has RA.  Her hands were bothering her and she decided to give it a try.  It worked almost instantly for her.  This further proves my point…everyone is different.  What works for one person may not necessarily work for another.  One size doesn’t fit all, and you have to experiment to find what works for you.

Ok, on to this episode.  Without getting very technical, especially with the terminology, let’s talk a bit about the “Parsley Family” of the plant kingdom, Apiaceae {A pea A see}.  This family, comprising approximately 434 genera and about 3,780 species of plants, most of which are indigenous to cooler regions of the world, includes angelica, anise, caraway, carrot, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, parsley and parsnip.
Today, I want to talk about Angelica.  I’ve never used Angelica, so I have no personal experiences to share, but I have mentioned it.  We’ll get into that in a bit.  

According to the National Library of Medicine, article found at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9822461/, QUOTE:  “Genus Angelica is one of the widely distributed and well-known genera of family Umbelliferae. It is utilized mainly by Chinese and Korean populations especially in their folk medicine. Angelica comprises a lot of medicinally important phytoconstituents such as coumarins, furanocoumarins, flavonoids, essential oils, verbascosides, polysaccharides, etc. Members of this genus play important roles, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, skin-whitening, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and many others.”  END QUOTE

Encyclopedia Britannica, article found at www.britannica.com/plant/angelica-plant, offers the following:  QUOTE: “…genus of about 90 species of aromatic herbs of the family Apiaceae {A pea A see} native to the Northern Hemisphere. A number of species are edible and have a long history of use in herbal medicine, particularly in China. Given their similarity to poisonous species such as poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), water hemlock (Cicuta {sah cute ah} species), and hogweed (Heracleum species), the plants should not be consumed unless their identity is absolutely certain.” END QUOTE Sounds like mushrooms, doesn’t it?  This article also breaks down a few of the major species.  QUOTE:  “Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) is commonly cultivated as a food plant and for herbal medicine. The roots and fruits yield angelica oil used to flavour liqueurs and in perfumery, while the tender shoots are used in making certain kinds of aromatic sweetmeats. Tea made from the roots and leaves is a traditional medicine for respiratory ailments. In the Faroe Islands and Iceland, where the plant grows abundantly, it is considered a vegetable.

Dong quai (A. sinensis) is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine and has a similarly long history of use in Korea and Japan. The root is used to treat menstrual disorders and symptoms of menopause. The plant and other species of Angelica have also been used as abortifacients. However, such preparations are not likely to terminate a pregnancy, and moreover they can induce potentially lethal reactions such as hemorrhage in people who take them.

Wild angelica (A. sylvestris), found throughout much of Eurasia, is a tall perennial herb with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or purple flowers; its stems and leaves are edible. The stalks of seacoast angelica (A. lucida) are eaten similarly to those of celery.”  END QUOTE

A few examples of liquor Angelica is used to make are Chartreuse and gin.  Its main components are Alpha-Pinene, Omega-3-Carene, Mycrene, Limonene and Beta-Phellandrene.  Hmmm…sound familiar?

Mycrene is a new one…it’s found in different plants including Hops, Basil, mangos, Cannabis and Angelica.  It’s known for its earthy, fruity aroma.  Some of its properties are analgesic, anti-diabetic and enhances transdermal absorption.  

To refresh, Alpha-Pinene has antimicrobial, apoptotic, antimetastatic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Limonene has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Omega-3-Carene has pesticide and pharmaceutical properties.

Another new one is beta-Phellandrene. In short, it’s used in fragrances due to its scent, often described as peppery-minty and slightly citrusy.  It’s used in treatments for various disorders of the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems.  

There are many different species of Angelica.  In general, and depending on what type you are using, Angelica can flavor liqueurs; treat flatulence, digestive issues and mild digestive cramping; relieve headaches and migraines; Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it to ease cerebral diseases; Traditional European Medicine uses it to reduce fever and relive rheumatism; relieves respiratory issues; relives painful menstruation and labor pains; treats skin disorders and more.  It’s an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-anxiety, antiemetic, anti-oxidant, diuretic, expectorant, just to name a few. 

Sounds good, right?  There are some drawbacks.  Some species of Angelica are poisonous.  You need to know what you’re looking for, like with mushrooms.  Too much Angelica can be poisonous.  It can also cause skin allergies, and sensitivity to light.  

Angelica Essential Oil offers many benefits including having a calming affect; relieving pain from achy joints and muscles, headaches and other pain; relieving various digestive issues; stimulating the immune system; improving respiratory functions;  reducing fevers; easing PMS symptoms; clearing skin issues; promoting restful sleep; protecting the liver.  Some of its properties are antibacterial, anti-spasmodic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, it’s even said to have some aphrodisiac properties.

If you listened to the Quit Smoking Episode, you’ll remember that Angelica can be used to help you stop smoking.  Like Black Pepper, it gives your lungs the same feeling as nicotine, and can help you beat the addiction.  One of the tips I offered was using an inhaler…it’s a tube, about the size of a Chapstick tube, with a rounded end, instead of hollow, with holes in it, and the cap covers the entire shaft.  Kind of like a Vicks inhaler.  There’s a cotton rod inside you douse with either Angelica or Black Pepper.  Instead of lighting a cigarette, inhale a bit of the essential oil on and off for about 2 ½ minutes (the average time it takes to smoke a cigarette).  This gives your lungs what they’re looking for and helps with the psychological habit of bringing your hand to your mouth.  You can substitute Angelica for lots of other oils, too.  Instead of Eucalyptus, try Angelica to help get rid of a headache or clear your sinuses.  You can substitute Angelica for various Pines, Firs and Spruces to clear congestion and reduce inflammation.  Remember to do your research.  Know what species is used to manufacture the oil you purchase.  There’s enough of a difference to matter.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email me at vobyjypsee@usa.com, or send a text from the podcast… You can follow me on X and Instagram … @vobyjypsee; or LinkedIn…search either Chris Wagenti, Who Gets It, Naturally or Voice Overs by Jypsee.  Please download this episode, and make Who Gets It, Naturally a favorite on your preferred channel so you don’t miss an episode.

You can buy me a coffee or get a membership at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vobyjypsee4, or clicking on the link in the episode description.  Thanks for your support and for listening!  The next episode will be published on Saturday, November 16th.