Angelica glauca, Lca ba ལྕ་བ

Lca ba (Tibet)
Coraka (Ayurveda)

K.R. Kirtikar, B.D. Basu, Indian medicinal plants (1918)

Botanical name:

Angelica glauca
Angelica cyclocarpa (used in Nepal)
Some sources have listed A. sinensis, A. archangelica and A. dahurica for Lca ba.

Parts used:

Root, leaf

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent, Sweet, Bitter

Uses:

Generally used as for Angelica Archangelica

1. Warms the Stomach, Moves Qi:

-Indigestion, Colic, Abdominal pain (API, Tibetan Medicine)
-Hiccup (API)
-Anemia, Debility (Tibetan)

2. Warms the Kidneys:

-Edema from Cold

3. Clears Damp, Settles Wind, Stops Spasms:

-Epilepsy, Insanity (API), Schizophrenia
-Dyspnoea (API)
-used for Wind-Damp disorders; Damp obstructing the Joints (Tibetan Medicine)

4. Clear Wind-Damp, Stops Itching:

-Obstinate skin diseases, Itchiness, Urticaria (API)

5. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:

-acute Fever
-Poison (API)
-Toxin in the Blood
-Wounds

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams

Comment:

1. Angelica glauca appears to have functions and indications similar to Angelica archangelica of the Western Tradition (‘Angelica’). Gyatso mentions the latter as a substitute for Angelica glauca, and several sources have indicated that A. archangelica is collected indiscriminately with A. glauca in the Himalayas.
2. Angelica glauca is regularly used with 4 other tonic herbs (Asparagus, Solomon’s Seal, Mirabilis and Tribulus). When used in this combination, its action are as a tonic medicine. In these cases, Dang Gui is a suitable substitute. Frawley in ‘Yoga of Herbs’, however, claims it to have tonic properties resembling Dang Gui.

Substitutes:

1. Angelica archangelica (Angelica) can generally replace A. glauca, Lca ba of Tibetan Medicine.
2. Buryat sources have listed Peucedanum spp. and Kitagawia baicalensis as sources.
3. When used as a tonic, such as when it is used in the ‘Five Roots’, Dang Gui may be more suitable.
4. Chaerophyllum villosum is used in Nepal.

Main Combinations:

Five Roots

The Five roots of Tibetan Medicine are Tribulus, Solomon’s Seal, Asparagus, Mirabilis, Angelica glauca. These are primarily Kidney tonics, used for chronic urinary disorders with deficiency, as well as Fertility, Aphrodisiac and Essence-building formulas. Tribulus seed can be used in place of Tribulus root. For Wind disorders, the Five Roots are made into a medicinal Ghee preparation.

1. Warm and strengthen the Kidney:
i. Angelica glauca with Tribulus terrestris, Soloman’s Seal, Lesser Cardamon
ii. Angelica glauca with Tribulus terrestris, Asparagus root, Cinnamon

Major Formulas:

Betel Immense Pleasure Giver (Gu yu bde dpags)
Cardamon 19 (Sug smel bcu dgu)
Catechu 25 (Seng ldeng 25)
Gentiana 6 (Kyi lche drug pa)
Mandala of the Sun (Se bru nye dkyil)
Mandala of the Sun that Pacifies (‘Ju byed nyi ma’i dkyil ‘khor)
Paraquilegia 6 (Mde’u ‘byin drug pa)
Pomegranate Nectar 11 (Mkhal sman se ‘bru bchu gchig)
The Melting Solar Disk (Ju byed nyi mai dkyil khor)
Protect from Cold 35 (Dar la ‘bab byed so lnga)

Cautions:

1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. See Angelica archangelica for more

Drug Interactions:

Use carefully in people taking Blood thinning medicine as it may potentiate the effect.

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