Arch-Angelica
Kneeled before the presence of archangel Angelica
Do you know the story behind Angelica archangelica’s latin name? Legend has it, a European monk received a vision of Archangel Michael during the Black Plague. The angel shared that the root of this plant would help them battle the pandemic.
Quickly word spread of Angelica’s effectiveness, and people— peasants to wealthy alike— flocked to the countryside to harvest it. If someone chewed on the root throughout the day, they reportedly did not catch the plague.
Though for centuries before, Angelica has been honored for food & medicine— especially in the Nordic isles, where this plant is thought to have survived the last Ice Age. Vikings traded the root as currency; it was an old law that digging up your neighbor’s Angelica was a punishable crime. Revered by the indigenous Sami people as a healing & visioning ally, they even created flutes, called Fadnos, out of Angelica’s hollow stalks.
Indeed this hollow stalk is a primary signature of Angelica, who strongly roots down then shoots up a hearty, hollow stalk that blooms into an antennae-like flower. Energetically, she shows us: when we deeply ground into our bodies & the Earth, we may open our crowns to insights and messages from beyond. Through embodiment, we come to trust in the unknown; and through this trust, we are graced with synchronicities that guide us in life’s unfolding.
On a physical level, Angelica is incredibly potent. A touch of the fresh root on the tongue leaves it tingling— a signature of how this warming, circulatory stimulant wakes our bodies up. She enlivens all numbness with her aromatic oils, which are antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial. Also diaphoretic & expectorant, Angelica helps us combat sickness and expel fluids from the lungs.
Delicious Angelica Syrup Recipe
I first started making this syrup from a recipe in Grieve's Modern Herbal (1931), which she said came from an old family recipe book. (Ancestral medicine!)
Begin by making a strong decoction: Combine 1/4 cup of dried root & 3 cups of water, partially cover, and gently simmer for about 1-2 hours, until the water reduces to 1 cup. Try & stay around your kitchen, as those aromatic oils will release for you to breathe in.
Strain out that strong cup of Angelica decoction and add 1/2 - 1 cup of cane sugar, maple syrup, or honey. The more. sweetener added, the more shelf stable it will be! I keep mine refrigerated nonetheless. Delicious by the spoonful or added to tea.
This barely scratches the surface of Angelica’s healing properties— To get a full download, here's my Angelica Materia Medica.
