Description

Angelica is a genus of plants in the parsley family used in both Western healing and traditional Chinese medicine. Usually the dried root is used medicinally. The most common angelica used in Western healing is the European species, Angelica archangelica. Occasionally the North American species, A. atropurpurea, is used in the same way as A. archangelica. Other names for Western Angelica are European angelica, garden angelica, purple angelica, Alexander's archangel, masterwort, wild angelica, and wild celery.

Western angelica grows to a height of about 4.5 ft (1.5 m) in dappled sun. It has white to yellow flowers, and very large three-part leaves. The root is long and fibrous and is poisonous if used fresh. The...