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Botanical Name: Aralia spinosa/Angelica archangelica
Family: N.O. Araliaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Apiales
Genus: Aralia
Species: A. elata
Common Name:Hercules-club
Synonyms: Hercules Club. Toothache Tree. Prickly Elder. Prickly Ash, though not to be confused with the better-known Prickly Ash.
Parts Used: Bark, root and berries.
Habitat: Native to eastern Russia,Manchuria, China, Korea, Virginia and Japan. In Japan it is known as tara-no-ki, and In Korea it is known as dureup namu.

Description: Grows from 8 to 12 feet high stem and leaves prickly, leaves doubly and triply pinnate, ovate, serrated leaflets, panicles much branched, downy, numerous umbels of white flowers, blooming in August and September, berries juicy and blackish. It prefers deep loamy soils in partial shade, but will grow in poorer soils and in full sun. The plant is sometimes cultivated, often in a variegated form, for its exotic appearance.

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The bark is used officially (is thin and ashcoloured), but other parts of the plant possess medical properties- odour fragrant and peculiar, slightly bitter taste.

This plant needs shade partially, rich and moist soil, wet bottomland, swamps and cool temperature grow. It grows to a 6 feet tall perennial.

The bark is rough and gray with prickles. The leaves are alternate, large, 60-120 cm long, and double pinnate. The flowers are produced in large umbels in late summer, each flower small and white. The fruit is a small black drupe.

Aralia elata is closely related to the American species Aralia spinosa, with which it is easily confused.

Religious importance:
If grown in garden it is believe this herb protects the garden and home. The leave is burnt to banish evil and root is used as protective amulet. It is also used to lengthen life and for protection against diseases and spirits. Adding it to a ritual bath will break spells and hexes

Constituents: Aralia spinosa contains a glucoside Araliin. The essential oils obtained from the seeds and roots by steam distillation are known to contain d–phellandrene, -pinene, osthenole, osthole, angelicin, -thujene, camphene, and numerous other compounds (1.1-242, 1.2-112). The fruits of angelica contain a higher percentage of oil and are rich in coumarins (1.2-113, 8 14.1-35). Root oil is considered superior to the oils obtained from other parts of the plant.

Medicinal Action and Uses: Fresh bark causes/vomiting and purging, but dried is a stimulating alterative. A tincture made from the bark is used for rheumatism, skin diseases and syphilis. The berries in tincture form, lull pain in decayed teeth and in other parts of the body, violent colic and rheumatism, useful in cholera when a cathartic is required in the following.

It is a herbal tea that is used to treat colic, gas, indigestion, hepatitis, and heartburn. It is also a remedy for afflictions of the respiratory system, liver problems and digestive difficulties. This herb also promotes circulation and energy in the body, often stimulates circulation in the pelvic region and also stimulates suppressed menstruation. It is advisable not to be used by pregnant women or diabetics.

compound: 1 drachm compound powdered Jalap, 1 drachm Aralia spinosa, 2 drachms compound rhubarb powder or infused in 1/2, pint boiling water and when cold taken in tablespoonful doses every half-hour. This does not produce choleric discharges.

Also a powerful sialogogue and valuable in diseases where mouth and throat get dry, and for sore throat; will relieve difficult breathing and produce moisture if given in very small doses of the powder. The bark, root, and berries can all be utilized.

In Japan, the shoots are eaten in the spring. They are picked from the end of the branches and are fried in a tempura batter. In Korean cuisine, its shoots called dureup are used for various dishes, such as dureup jeon , that is a vareity of jeon (pancake-like dish) made by pan-frying the shoots covered with minced beef and batter. Dureup namul or also called dureup muchim is a dish made by parboiling dureup seasoned with gochujang (chili pepper paste).

As a medicinal plant, angelica was considered to have ‘angelic’ healing powers. It was used as a carminative, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and tonic. The plant has been used as a remedy for nervous headaches, fever, skin rashes, wounds, rheumatism, and toothaches. Seeds have been used as a diaphoretic and diuretic. Angelica has exhibited antimicrobial activity .

Several other Angelica species have traditional medicinal uses The roots and rhizomes of Angelica pubescens are employed in Chinese herbal preparations for arthritis, rheumatism, headache, toothache, abscesses, and carminative activity (11.1-10). Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels is used in treatment of such acute abdominal conditions as appendicitis and against psoriasis (7.7-6, 11.1-97). This plant has been shown to induce uterine contractions and relaxation, act as a sedative, and overcome symptoms induced by vitamin-E deficiency (11.1-96, 11.1-97). Toki, the root of Angelica acutiloba (Siebold and Zucc.) Kitag, has been shown to be an effective analgesic and to have anti-inflammatory effects (7.6-206). Lahnophyllum lactone and osthol isolated from Angelica klusiana have been shown to repel sea snails (1.8-115).

Roots intended for flavoring agents are often harvested in fall of the first year. Leaves and stalks are generally harvested in the spring of the second year. Seeds are harvested when ripe. Under cultivation, tops are usually pruned to prevent bloom and thus allow root growth to continue.

As flavoring agents, roots and seeds of angelica are widely used in alcoholic liqueurs such as benedictine and chartreuse, and in gin and vermouth. The fruit is used in herbal teas. The leaves are sometimes blanched, boiled, and eaten in salads or as a garnish with vegetables and meats. Leaf stalks may be candied and used in cakes and desserts. The essential oil of angelica is used in perfumes, soaps, salves, oils, shampoos, and cigarettes.

The Angelica species are generally recognized as safe for human consumption as natural seasonings/flavorings, and Angelica archangelica L. is also safe as a natural extractive/essential oil.

You may click to learn more about Angelica

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Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/angel038.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aralia_elata

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/ANGELICA.html

http://www.ayurveda-herbal-remedy.com/herbal-encyclopedia/index.html

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