Last update May 20, 2026

Garden Angelica

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

Shrub. The root is used. It contains essential oils, lactones, tannins, coumarins (furanocumarinas), sitosterol. Not to be confused with Chinese angelica, or other types of angelica (Bi 2026, Wang 2024, Ahn 2022). Indication from Commission E of the German Ministry of Health: orexigen, spasmolytic, cholagogue. (Fitoterapia.net, Blumenthal 1998)

Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breast milk.

None of the therapeutic properties attributed to it have been scientifically proven. There is very published literature and even less regarding in humans.

Furanocoumarins are phototoxic and, together with sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation), are considered to be carcinogenic (EMA 2007). The lack of literature and the potential carcinogenic risk added to the lack of precise therapeutic indications make it an entirely non-essential product, especially during breastfeeding.

Precautions when taking plant preparations (Anderson 2017, Powers 2015, Posadzki 2013, Efferth 2011, Kopec 1999, Hsu 1995):

  • Make sure they are from a reliable source: Poisonings have occurred from mistaking one plant for another with toxic properties (Cornara 2018, Hsu 1995), poisonings due to heavy metals that the plants extract from the soil, and food poisonings from contamination with bacteria or fungi. (Anderson 2017)
  • Do not take in excess; follow recommendations from expert phytotherapy professionals. “Natural” products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which much of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause intoxications or act as endocrine disruptors if consumed in exaggerated quantity or time, as they contain phytoestrogens. (Powers 2015, Zava 1998)

See below the information of this related product:

  • Chinese angelica (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.
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Other names

Garden Angelica is also known as Angelica.


Garden Angelica in other languages or writings:

Group

Garden Angelica belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Garden Angelica in its composition:

List of 9 tradenames
  • Agua del Carmen™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Bittner™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Buenafuente 9 Hierbas™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Carvomin™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Cold Escape Formula A™
  • Digestion Calming Drops™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Eau des Carmes (Belgium)™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Pervivo™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition
  • Wunderbalsam™. Contains other elements than Garden Angelica in its composition

References

  1. Fitoterapia.net. Vanaclocha B, Cañigueral S. Fitoterapia.net. 1992 - - Disponible en: https://www.fitoterapia.net. Consulted on March 12, 2025 Abstract
  2. Bi W, Li J, Tang X, Fang L, Sun H, Ding Y, Li W. Rapid Screening of Angelica sinensis Root Adulteration With Angelica pubescens Root in Raw Materials of Chinese Patent Drugs Using Amplicon Sequencing and Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Biomed Chromatogr. 2026 May;40(5):e70454. Abstract
  3. Wang XR, Zhang JT, He F, Fu R, Jing WG, Guo X, Li M, Cheng XL, Wei F. Identification Analysis of Angelicae sinensis radix and Angelicae pubescentis radix Based on Quantized "Digital Identity" and UHPLC-QTOF-MS(E) Analysis. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2024 Sep 4;35(9):2222-2229. Abstract
  4. Ahn SJ, Kim HJ, Lee A, Min SS, Kim E, Kim S. Discrimination of three Angelica herbs using LC-QTOF/MS combined with multivariate analysis. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2022 Jul;39(7):1195-1205. Abstract
  5. Cornara L, Smeriglio A, Frigerio J, Labra M, Di Gristina E, Denaro M, Mora E, Trombetta D. The problem of misidentification between edible and poisonous wild plants: Reports from the Mediterranean area. Food Chem Toxicol. 2018 Sep;119:112-121. Abstract
  6. Anderson PO. Herbal Use During Breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2017 Abstract
  7. Powers CN, Setzer WN. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 22;3:4. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  8. Posadzki P, Watson L, Ernst E. Contamination and adulteration of herbal medicinal products (HMPs): an overview of systematic reviews. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Abstract
  9. Efferth T, Kaina B. Toxicities by herbal medicines with emphasis to traditional Chinese medicine. Curr Drug Metab. 2011 Abstract
  10. EMA. Reflection paper on the risks associated with Furocoumarins contained in preparations of Angelica archangelica L. Committee on herbal medicinal products. (HMPC). 2007 Full text (in our servers)
  11. Kopec K. Herbal medications and breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 1999 Jun;15(2):157-61. Review. No abstract available. Abstract
  12. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, Gruenwald J, Hall T, Riggins CW, Rister RS, editors. The American Botanical Council. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Integrative Medicine Com; Boston, MA, USA: 1998
  13. Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998 Abstract
  14. Hsu CK, Leo P, Shastry D, Meggs W, Weisman R, Hoffman RS. Anticholinergic poisoning associated with herbal tea. Arch Intern Med. 1995 Abstract

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