Useful information

Medicinal angelica from the Far East

Angelica daurian

 

Angelica daurian

Entitled angelica, or dagil daurskiy in China, two varieties are used for medicinal purposes - Angelica dahurica and subspecies Angelica dahurica var.formosanathat come from China and the Far East.

Angelica dahurica commonly known in China as Qi Bai Zhi, it is a perennial herb up to 1.8 m high, mainly produced in the Henan and Hebei provinces in the east of the country.

The root is conical, 7-24 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, grayish-yellow or yellowish-brown in color, with a grayish-white crumbly core and hard bark covered with roundish receptacles of essential oils, has a rich and pungent aroma with slightly bitter taste.

The quality of raw materials is determined by density, good crumbling, unbranched, and rich aroma.

Angelica dahurica var. formosana commonly known as Hang Bai Zhi in China, it grows mainly in the provinces of Zhunjiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan, Sichuan. These are conical roots, 10 to 20 cm long and 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter. The upper part is almost square, grayish brown in color. The texture is firm, it is slightly heavier, on the cut it has a crumbly cross-shaped core, the outer bark is densely covered with essential oil containers. It has an intense and pungent aroma and a slightly bitter taste.

Growing

The optimal conditions for the growth of Dahurian angelica, as well as for most other species of this genus, are wet and semi-shady places, when the sun illuminates the plants for only half a day, but completely shaded areas are also not suitable for it. Sowing is best done with freshly harvested seeds, which are sown in a greenhouse or on a covered bed with well-permeable and fertile soil immediately after ripening. Although plants can grow in partial shade, seeds require sunlight to germinate.

Medicinal use

Dahurian angelica roots

Mentions of the medicinal use of the root of the angelica Daurian are dated 400 BC. Later, the military doctor Zhang Zhen Kong (1156-1228) believed that this plant should be used against diseases caused by external factors and pathogens that entered the human body. He listed Bai Zhi to herbs that cleanse the body of any negative effects, including climatic ones.

Today, the roots are used to treat a range of disease symptoms such as headaches, nasal congestion, to cleanse the blood, as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, laxative, sedative, and to treat swollen gums and toothaches. It is also used in Chinese cosmetics for antifungal and anti-inflammatory cream. Dahurian angelica roots for the needs of Chinese medicine are mainly produced in the Chinese province of Sichuan, in the Suining region.

The root of Dahurian angelica (Baizhi in Chinese) is dug up in summer or autumn, cleaned of lateral roots and the outer part. The inner peeled part of the root is dried by cutting into pieces. The raw material contains essential oil and furocoumarins. Traditional Chinese medicine is used for colds, headaches, nasal congestion, toothache, boils, carbuncles, and painful swellings.

Bai Zhi has been used for thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicine, where it has been used as a diaphoretic, increasing the body's resistance to adverse environmental conditions. In addition, it has anesthetic, analgesic, antibacterial, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic effect and manifests itself as an antidote for poisoning. It is used for trigeminal neuralgia.

Modern research shows that the use of this plant promotes cell regeneration, improves microcirculation and skin metabolism, which accelerate the decomposition of pigment and the removal of age spots, including age spots. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing noted that this plant helps to achieve healthy skin through its whitening and softening effect, and therefore it is often used as an ingredient in face creams.Not surprisingly, Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang's legendary recipe for Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang and Empress Dowager Cixi's secret cream recipe included this plant as a main ingredient. Now, more and more medical evidence suggests that this herb has a special effect in the treatment of blackheads, blackheads and acne.

Chinese soup for kidney and spleen

This plant is widely used in China and in daily life. A special soup is prepared from it, which includes 1 head of fish, 50 g of pork, lovage root (3 g), dahurian angelica root (5 g), yam (5 g), fern rhizome (5 g) and codonopsis (5 g) ... Chinese medicine believes that a person who eats such a soup has well-functioning kidneys and spleen, good memories, black and shiny hair, and strong teeth. Of course, you shouldn't repeat this recipe at home, but you should think about the value of the Chinese experience.

Bai Zhi is contraindicated for pregnant women. Angelicotoxin, contained in the roots in small doses, has an exciting effect on the respiratory center and the central nervous system, thereby increasing breathing, increasing pressure, slowing down the pulse, causing increased saliva secretion and vomiting. May cause seizures and paralysis in high doses. Finally, the plant's furocoumarins increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Therefore, using an ointment with this plant, you should not sunbathe in the sun at the same time.

Angelica chinese

 

Angelica chinese

Angelica, or angelica chinese (Angelica sinensis) is found in the Far East and China. The root is cylindro-conical, branched, juicy, strongly aromatic. It is used in Chinese medicine (Dang gui). The excavated roots are cleaned of the outer layer. After that, they are dried up, cut across into washers and dried on special sieves very slowly over an open fire.

The roots contain phthalides, primarily ligustide and its derivatives, ligustilide butidphthalide, etc., which are the main components of the essential oil of the roots. In addition to the listed components, the essential oil contains β-cadinene, carvacrol and cis-β-ocymene. In addition, the roots contain ferulic acid, coniferyl ferulate, polysaccharides.

In Chinese medicine, this herb is known primarily as the best doctor for female problems such as menopause symptoms, cramps and PMS, and it is even sometimes called "female ginseng" and is widely used as an aphrodisiac. It is one of the most commonly used herbs in Chinese medicine, along with ginseng and licorice. For more than 2,000 years, Chinese doctors have used it as a remedy that activates all internal organs, improves blood circulation and promotes the flow of energy.

In Chinese medicine, it is prescribed for an icteric complexion, flies in the eyes, dizziness and a state of fear, palpitations, irregularities in women, pain in the liver, constipation, rheumatoid pain, snake bites, carbuncles, boils. Currently, this plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to maintain women's health, in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, inflammation, pain, infection, moderate anemia, fatigue and high blood pressure. In laboratory studies, polysaccharides have shown antioxidant activity.

There is a separate article in the WHO Monographs describing the chemical composition and aspects of the use of Chinese angelica.

Dong Kwai is used during menopause to relieve symptoms such as hot flashes. It is a potential anti-osteoporosis agent. Studies have shown that Chinese angelica extract prevented bone loss. A number of authors suggest an estrogenic effect in this plant.

Animal studies have shown that Chinese angelica preparations normalize the heart rate, reduce blood clotting and reduce the likelihood of blood clots, have hepatoprotective, diuretic and mild laxative effects. Many of the listed effects are indicated by Chinese doctors, based on thousands of years of observations.

There are publications reporting that substances from Chinese angelica can affect the tone of the muscles of the uterus and provoke a miscarriage. You should not use the preparations of this plant and if pregnancy is only planned.When taking Chinese angelica preparations externally and internally, the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet light increases, which can provoke skin irritation and increase the risk of skin cancer. It is not recommended to take the preparations of this plant for a long time, especially for men.

Fluffy angelica

Fluffy angelica

Angelica, or angelica fluffy (Angelica pubescens) also found in China, Japan and the Far East. It is a perennial plant up to 1.8 m high. It blooms in July-August. The plant is mainly pollinated by insects, but it is also capable of self-pollination. The species is very polymorphic. The roots are dug up in the fall after the dying off of the aboveground mass. The roots contain essential oil and coumarins (ostol). In Japan they are called shishiudo, and in China - du huo.

Roots and rhizomes - analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, carminative, sedative and vasodilator. The decoction is used to stimulate the onset of menstruation, to treat rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, toothache, headache, and abscesses. In Chinese medicine, it is used for pain in the lower back and knees, as well as headaches.

This plant is used in medicine in the same cases as Dudnik Dahurian (Bai Ji).

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