Arnica

Arnica Montana

Also known as Wolfs bane. The name Arnica comes from the ancient Greek name arnakis which means “lambs skin” as the rosette leaves at the base of the flower are quite soft. It is acrid and pungent, stimulating of the circulatory system and warming.

Botanical illustration of a yellow flower arnica plant with detailed anatomical parts on a beige background.

Family: Asteracae

Which probiotic is it in?: Men

Habit and cultivation: Native to Europe, but found in the mountain slopes of North America, northern Asia, and Siberia.

Actions (known for): Arnica is a major trauma remedy, easing anxiety and shock. Its primary influence is on blood and circulation system and muscoskeletal system. Although anti-inflammatory it is warming. It's specific for bruises, contusions, and essential impact injury without splitting the skin where circulation has been disrupted and heat helps eventually. Arnica soothes sore muscles, reduces pain and aids in reducing inflammation and bruising bringing microcirculation to the damaged tissues, muscles and/or joints.

History of Arnica

It has been used for centuries worldwide, with the Okanagan tribe of Canada using the powder externally on the face as a love potion, by the German forces of World War two for shock and injury. Probably the most well-known homoeopathic remedy, where its broad powers are most safely released.

Parts used from the Arnica

Flowers and occasionally the rhizomes

Constituents (bio available chemicals):

Arnicin, coumarins, rutin, inulin, sesquiterpene lactone - helenalin, flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives), mucilage, and essential oils.

Nutritional constituents:

Not to be eaten

Indications:

Where there is stagnation of circulation, shock, trauma, impact injury but no broken skin, debilitation.

Dosage:

1-3 drops of tincture diluted in water or as a balm

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Cautions for therapeutic doses

Arnica, in large doses can be very irritating to tissues and could cause blistering of the intestinal mucosa and so not used generally as an internal herb. Contraindicated in Pregnancy. No known side-effects in homeopathic doses and no known herb/drug interactions

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