Angelica Tree Herb Information

Scientific Name: Aralia spinosa

Angelica Tree is a small tree of 8-12 feet long with prickly leaves, blackish berries and umbels of white flowers in August. The bark of Angelica Tree is thin and ash colored and is the official part used although other parts have medicinal uses as well.

Uses of Angelica Tree

• Stimulating alterative; powerful sialogogue (increases salivation and useful where mouth and throat get dry).
• Angelica Tree is used for sore throat, to relieve breathing difficulty, and to produce moisture when given in very small dosages of the powder (bark, berries and roots all used).
• The berries in tincture form is used to ease pain in decayed teeth and in other parts of the body. Angelica Tree is also used for violent colic and rheumatism.
• Native Americans used a decoction of the bark and root of Angelica Tree as a purifier of blood and as a fever remedy.
• Early African Americans used it for snakebite: the bark of the fresh root was taken in decoction and the powdered root was applied to the bite externally.
• Berries are used in an infusion in wine to relieve violent colic and for pain of rheumatism.
• Tincture is used for rheumatism, skin diseases and (formerly) for syphilis.
• Angelica Tree is used in cases of cholera when a violent cathartic is desired. The bark is infused in 1/2 pint boiling water and, when cold, taken in tablespoonful doses every 1/2 hour. Or else the following compounded recipe was used: 1 drachm compound powdered Jalap, 1 drachm Aralia spinosa, 2 drachms compound rhubarb powder.
• A decoction is used for the same purposes as Sarsaparilla.
  A. spinosa was included in the US Pharmacopeia 1820-82 as official for use as a stimulant and diuretic.