Common Name:

General Information

Angelica anomala is a herbaceous, perennial plant with a branching stem 40 - 150cm tall[].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a medicine. It is used as a regional substitute for the traditional Chinese medicine 'bai zhi' (Angelica decursiva), and is sold in local merkets.

Known Hazards

One report says that caution is advised in the use of this plant but it gives no reason[].
All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern Siberia, northern China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Damp habitats in C. and N. Japan[, ]. Forests, forest margins, grasslands, streamsides; at elevations from 500 - 1,000 metres[]. Banks of rivers and streams, damp forest plots, willow woods[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[].
Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root of this plant is used in northeast China as a regional substitute for the traditional Chinese medicine 'bai zhi' (Angelica decursiva)[].
The root is analgesic, antibacterial, antidote, carminative, depuritive, diaphoretic, poultice and is also used to treat women's complaints[, , , ]. The drug (an extract of the root?) lowers arterial pressure, increases diuresis and stimulates contraction of the smooth muscles, especially the uterus, but without causing abortion[]. The plant is used in the treatment of colds and headaches, coryza, leucorrhoea, boils and abscesses[].

Small quantities of angelicotoxin, one of the active ingredients in the root, have an excitatory effect on the respiratory centre, central nervous system and vasculomotor centre. It increases the rate of respiration, increases blood pressure, decreases the pulse, increases the secretion of saliva and induces vomiting[]. In large doses it can cause convulsions and generalized paralysis[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability[]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring.
The seed can also be sow in situ as soon as it is ripe.