Dahurian angelica
Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav.
Dahurian angelica (Angelica dahurica) is a herb of the carrot family; its large fragrant root is sliced and used in traditional medicine for colds, headaches and sinusitis; widely grown in China and Vietnam.
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Gallery
Dahurian angelica — Dried slices (2)Dahurian angelica — Plant
Dahurian angelica — Plant (2)
Dahurian angelica — Illustration
Dahurian angelica — Dried slices
Dahurian angelica — Herbal materialDahurian angelica — Dried slices (2)Dahurian angelica — PlantOverview
Dahurian angelica (Angelica dahurica), also called bai zhi in Chinese medicine, is a perennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae) native to East Asia. The plant grows 1–2.5 m tall with grooved stems and large leaf sheaths. Its pinnate leaves are deeply divided and borne alternately. The compound umbels of white flowers open at the top of the stem; the fruit is a ribbed schizocarp. The medicinal part is the large, fragrant, creamy-white root tuber, sliced and dried into what is called bai zhi. The root contains essential oil and coumarins such as imperatorin and byakangelicin. In traditional medicine the root is warm and pungent; it disperses cold, dries dampness, relieves pain and is used for headaches, sinusitis and colds. It is widely cultivated in China, Japan and Korea; in Vietnam it is grown in some northern provinces for its root.
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Angelica_dahurica_%288855221294%29.jpg/1920px-Angelica_dahurica_%288855221294%29.jpg
Plant (2)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Angelica_dahurica_99141342.jpg
Dried slices
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Dried_angelica_dahurica_slices.jpg/1920px-Dried_angelica_dahurica_slices.jpg
Herbal material
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/%E7%99%BD%E8%8A%B7%E9%A5%AE%E7%89%87.jpg/1920px-%E7%99%BD%E8%8A%B7%E9%A5%AE%E7%89%87.jpg
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- China (Sichuan, Hebei…)45%
- Japan & Korea25%
- Vietnam (cultivated)15%
- Russian Far East10%
- Others5%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Carbohydrates55%
- Water15%
- Fibre12%
- Protein8%
- Minerals7%
- Essential oil & coumarins3%
Uses
- TCM: root disperses cold, dries damp, stops pain; used for colds, headaches, toothache, sinusitis
- Herbal material: dried sliced root (bai zhi); an ingredient in many prescriptions
- Flavouring: used as a spice in Chinese cooking (stews, dressings)
- Fragrance: root essential oil used in cosmetics and perfumery
Properties
- Form
- Tall herb
- Flower
- White
- Nature
- Warm, pungent
- Actions
- Disperses cold, stops pain, dries damp, anti-inflammatory
Habitat & conservation
Dahurian angelica prefers a warm temperate or subtropical climate and fertile, well-drained alluvial soils. It is propagated by seed, sown in autumn, with roots harvested after 1–2 years. In Vietnam it is grown in several northern provinces (Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, Lào Cai) for its medicinal root.
Conservation
A widely cultivated East Asian species, not yet assessed by IUCN (NE). A common herbal medicine in TCM and Vietnamese traditional medicine. Carrot family (Apiaceae), genus Angelica.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2Bai zhi — mô tả, thành phần, công dụng — Wikipedia tiếng Anh, 2026
- 3Bạch chỉ — đặc điểm, công dụng, cách dùng — Wikipedia tiếng Việt, 2026
- 4白芷 Angelica dahurica — 形態、藥用 — Wikipedia tiếng Trung, 2026
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Alicia-C (CC BY 2.0) / Oleg Kosterin (CC BY 4.0) / Chu chong chiong (Public domain) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Fumikas Sagisavas (CC0) / 三猎 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons,