Medicinal Monday - Angelica

Angelica has a long history as a medicinal herb.  There are 60 species of Angelica that grow all over the world; each has special healing properties that have been used in similar ways.  More than twenty different Native American tribes used this plant for medicine.  

Distinguishing Characteristics

Angelica looks like its' relative, the carrot, except that it can reach the height of ten feet!  Thought to have originated in Syria, angelica spread through colder climates and is even found in Greenland and Iceland, where it is protected. 

Angelica's roots can weigh up to three pounds and the bright green leaves are long and spindle-shaped.  The greenish-white flowers are small and grouped into large tubular umbels. Angelica is unique for its' overwhelmingly pleasant perfume-like aromatic smell that is sometimes compared to musk or juniper. Angelica prefers damp soil and self-sows for many generations. It usually flowers in the second year of growth. 

Medicinal Uses

In Europe, a book published in 1629 ranks angelica as one of the most important herbs for its medicinal properties.  For centuries it was an important medicinal plant for Lapps in northern Finland, Norway and Sweden and the Inuits in Greenland.  According to Icelandic Sagas, angelica was also widely used by the Vikings.

Native Americans would use the entire plant for medicinal purposes. The leaves were harvested in early summer, the seeds in late summer, and the roots in late autumn.  Native Americans used many species of angelica including purple angelica to treat colds and stomach problems;  they also used it as a diuretic and appetite stimulant.

The Iroquois used angelica as an infusion in a steam bath to treat frostbite and headaches.  The root of the angelica plant was also ground into a poultice to treat broken bones.  Some tribes added angelica to sacred pipes as a  purification herb used during healing ceremonies. The Creeks chewed the root and swallowed the juice to help stomach problems.

Did you Know...

The root is a rich source of vitamin B12, folic acid, and niacin, which may explain its blood-building attributes because these B vitamins are instrumental in making blood cells.

The coumarins increase blood flow, relieve inflammation, stimulate the central nervous system, and have antispasmodic effects.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans, the focus is on stewardship and preservation.  This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.


Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.