Angelica Archangelica
At first taste, angelica has a sweet taste followed by a warm, bitter almost musk like flavor.

The roots, leaves and fruit of angelica are carminative, stimulant, diaphoretic, stomachic, tonic, expectorant and mild emmemagogue (to bring on periods).

Angelica has been praised through the ages for it's blood purifying properties. It has been used for fevers, colds, bronchitis, coughs, pleurisy, colic, gas, rheumatism and urinary system problems. It's expectorant properties make it a great herb to use for congestion.

Make a basic decoction for angelica tea as a digestive aid and to help reduce cold and flu symptoms of coughing. nausea, fever and to bring on a late period. Bring one cup of water to a boil, add 1 teaspoon dried root, lower heat and gently simmer from 2 -5 minutes. In tinctures, Angelica's properties extract better in alcohol that water.

Diabetics should not use angelica, as it can cause an increase of sugar in the urine and it should not be used during pregnancy. Stay out of the sunlight when taking angelica as it can make the skin overly sensitive to UV light.

Angelica is associated with the spring-time festival of the Annunciation and is said to bloom on or around May 8th which is the day of the Archangel Michael. It is said Michael the Archangel appeared in a monks dream to tell him to use angelica for the victims of the bubonic plague; anyone who kept a piece of the root in their mouth all through the day would be preserved from the plague. It is said to provide protection against evil and has been referred to as 'The Root of the Holy Ghost'.

(The above information is the historical use and not meant to be used in place of advice from a medical professional)