Angelica: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Angelica officinalis, Angelica archangelica L.
Scientific name(s)
Angelica archangelica
Family or group:
Plants
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Digestive disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
ESCOP recommends angelica for dyspeptic conditions such as mild gastrointestinal spasms, slow digestion, flatulence and a feeling of fullness; loss of appetite, anorexia and bronchitis. These indications are based on long-standing use. A specific product containing angelica (Iberogast) appears to improve symptoms of dyspepsia. The combination includes angelica plus peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, milk thistle, lemon balm and other plants. A meta-analysis of studies using this combined product shows that taking 1 mL orally three times a day for a period of 4 weeks reduces the severity of acid reflux, epigastric pain, cramps, nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral: root
1.5 g
alcoholic extract, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast)
Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Flatulence ✪✪✪✪✪
ESCOP recommends angelica for dyspeptic conditions such as mild gastrointestinal spasms, slow digestion, flatulence and a feeling of fullness; loss of appetite, anorexia and bronchitis. These indications are based on long-term use. A specific product containing angelica (Iberogast) appears to improve dyspepsia symptoms. The combination includes angelica plus peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, milk thistle, lemon balm and other plants. A meta-analysis of studies using this combined product shows that taking 1 mL orally three times a day for a period of 4 weeks reduces the severity of acid reflux, epigastric pain, cramps, nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.
Posologie
Orally: root
1.5 g
alcoholic extract, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast)
Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Stimulate appetite ✪✪✪✪✪
ESCOP recommends angelica for dyspeptic conditions such as mild gastrointestinal spasms, slow digestion, flatulence and a feeling of fullness; loss of appetite, anorexia and bronchitis. These indications are based on long-term use.
Posologie
By mouth: root
1.5 g
alcoholic extract, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Digestive spasms ✪✪✪✪✪
ESCOP recommends angelica for dyspeptic conditions such as mild gastrointestinal spasms, slow digestion, flatulence and a feeling of fullness; loss of appetite, anorexia and bronchitis. These indications are based on long-term use. A specific product containing angelica (Iberogast) appears to improve dyspepsia symptoms. The combination includes angelica plus peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, milk thistle, lemon balm and other plants. A meta-analysis of studies using this combined product shows that taking 1 mL orally three times a day for a period of 4 weeks reduces the severity of acid reflux, epigastric pain, cramps, nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.
Posologie
By mouth: root
1.5 g
alcoholic extract, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast)
Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Liver disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary research suggests that angelica has antioxidant activity and may protect the liver from chronic alcohol toxicity. Angelica extracts appear to have an inhibitory effect on the peroxidation of membrane lipids and the formation of free radicals, and may have free radical scavenging activity.
Posologie
By mouth: root
1.5 g
alcoholic extract, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Properties
Antispasmodic
A 50% methanolic extract of angelica root exhibited significant spasmolytic activity on isolated guinea pig ileum in the laboratory. The essential oil of angelica root also had a powerful relaxing effect, inhibiting contractions of the isolated smooth muscle of the trachea and ileum of guinea pigs. Angelicin appears to be responsible for the relaxation and inhibition of contractions.
Usages associés
Anticancer
An ethanolic extract of angelica fruit that contains furanocoumarins, imperatorin and xanthotoxin appears to have an antiproliferative effect on cancer cells. The extract of angelica leaves also appears to have antiproliferative and antitumor effects, likely due in part to its content of xanthotoxin.
Gastroprotective
An ethanolic liquid extract of angelica root, administered orally to rats at 2.5-10 ml/kg body weight one hour before oral administration of indomethacin at 10 mg/kg, provided a degree of protection against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers, thereby reducing the ulcer index by 35-45%. This was associated with a reduction in gastric juice acidity, an increase in mucin secretion, an increase in prostaglandin E2 release and a decrease in leukotrienes. The anti-ulcerogenic effect of the extract was confirmed histologically.
Usages associés
Hepatoprotective
Mice with ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, indicated by elevated serum levels of GOT and GTP (hepatic markers) and increased hepatic lipid peroxidation, were treated orally with a dry aqueous extract of angelica root at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg three times per week for 4 weeks. The hepatoprotective effect of the extract was demonstrated by the significant reduction in serum GOT and GTP levels and by the significant, dose-dependent inhibition of malondialdehyde formation in mouse liver homogenates. The observed effects were attributed to the antioxidant activity of the extract.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults aged 16 and over: 3 g - 6 g
- Daily adult dose: 3-6 g of the dried plant, or as an infusion ; - Liquid extract 1:1 in 25% ethanol, 1.5-6 ml - Tincture 1:5 in 50% ethanol, 1.5-6 ml, preferably divided into three doses.
Children aged 4 to 16 years: 2 g - 4 g
Average daily dose: 4-10 years, 2-3 g; 10-16 years, 3-4 g.
Precautions
Breastfeeding: avoid
No data to date. Avoid use without medical advice.
Contraindications
Pregnancy: contraindicated
Preliminary research suggests that angelica may cause uterine contractions.
