Angelica oil

Common Name: Angelica oil

Botanical Name: Angelica archangelica

Other Names: Garden Angelica, Archangel root, Angelica sylvestris, Woodland angelica.

Introduction

Angelica oil is derived from the plant Angelica archangelica roots (A. officinalis) by steam distillation. The name Angelica refers to the fact that the plant usually blooms on 8th May, the day of the Archangel St. Michael in Christian traditions. The plant is also commonly known as the root of the Holy Ghost and Angel Grass. The oil is derived from the seeds, rhizome and root of the plant by the process of steam distillation.

This bi-annual or tri-annual herb requires plenty of water to grow and it has broad pointed leaves that divide into smaller leaflets (bi-pinnate or tri-pinnate). The herb bears tiny yellow-green flowers. Indigenous to Africa and later introduced to Siberia and Europe it is also cultivated in other countries like India. The chemical components of the oil include camphene, sabinene, myrcene, copaene etc.

Uses of Angelica oil

Medicinal uses: The medicinal benefits of Angelica Essential Oil can be credited to its carminative, digestive, anti spasmodic, hepatic, depurative, febrifuge, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, emenagogue, nervine, stimulant, stomachic properties. It is also a tonic. The physical uses of the oil include the treatment of nausea, stress reduction, relaxation of the nervous system, improvement of mental intelligibility, having a peaceful sleep. It is also used against coughs and chronic bronchial asthma.

It should not be used during pregnancy and also by the patients suffering from diabetes. It should be used in diluted form because can cause skin irritation and also photo toxicity in higher concentrations. In higher dosages it can cause hyper activity of the nervous system.