Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Angelica - the Safety Factor
Angelica has never been shown to stimulate uterine contractions, but given its traditional use to induce menstruation and abortions, pregnant women should not use medicinal amounts.
Angelica contains chemicals known as psoralens. When exposed to sunlight. people who have ingested psora lens often develop a rash (photosensitivity).
Psoralens also may promote tumor growth, leading the authors of a report in the journal Science to advise against taking angelica internally. On the other hand, a recent animal study showed another angelica constituent (alpha-angelica lactone) has an anti-cancer effect. Angelica’s role in human cancer, if any, remains unclear. However, people with a history of cancer should probably not use it until this question has been resolved.
Pretty Poison
Fresh angelica roots are poisonous. Drying eliminates the hazard. Herb gardeners should be sure to dry angelica roots thoroughly before using them.
Finally, unless you are a confident field botanist, do not collect angelica in the wild. It’s easy to confuse with water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), an extremely poisonous plant.
Other Cautions
The Food and Drug Administration includes angelica in its list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy nonpregnant, nonnursing adults who have no history of cancer, heart attack, or photosensitivity, angelica is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended. Angelica should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If angelica causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, take less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Native Cultivation - Harvest and Have a Feast Day
Angelica often blooms around May 8, the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, which is the source of this herb’s Latin name, archangelica.
Angelica grows to 8 feet and resembles celery, hence its common name, wild celery. It’s a biennial that dies after producing seeds. It grows from seeds or root divisions. Seed viability is relatively brief, only about six months, but refrigeration extends it up to a year. Germination may take a month. Sow angelica in the fall or spring lh inch deep in well prepared beds. Allow plants 2 feet in all directions.
Angelica thrives in rich, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It prefers partial shade. Leaves may be harvested in the fall of the first year, roots during the spring or fall of the second year.
Angelica is not usually considered a culinary herb, but fresh leaves provide a zesty accent to soups and salads. It has a fragrant aroma and a warm, vaguely sweet taste reminiscent of juniper, followed by a bitter aftertaste. Steamed stems may be eaten with butter, and chopped stems add flavor to roast pork.