Arnica Flower Profile
Also known as
Arnica montana L. or A. chamissonis, leopard's bane and mountain tobacco.
Introduction
Arnica is a graceful woodland plant in the same family as the sunflower, native to Central Europe and the western United States. Its yellow flowers are collected art summer's end and dried for medicinal use.
Constituents
According to The Complete German Commission E Monographs, arnica contains sesquiterpene lactones of the helenanolid type, predominantly ester derivatives of helenalin and 11,13-dihydrohelenalin. Additionally, the herb contains flavonoids (e.g., isoquercitrin, luteolin-7-glucoside, and astragalin), volatile oil (with thymol and its derivatives), phenol carbonic acid (chlorogenic acid, cynarin, caffeic acid), and coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin).
Parts Used
Fresh or dried flowers. The root is also used in European herbal preparations.
Typical Preparations
Used as an infusion (approximately 1 teaspoon dried herb in 1/2 cup water), tincture (approximately 1 part herb to 10 parts alcohol), oil (1 part dried herb in 5 parts plant oil), or mouth rinse (1 part tincture in 10 parts water), or ointment (1 part arnica oil to 4 or 5 parts base). Only homeopathic preparations of arnica are recommended for internal use.
Summary
Arnica oils and creams are used topically to treat sprains, bruises, and muscle pain. Diluted tinctures of arnica are used in foot baths (1 teaspoon of tincture to a pan of warm water) to soothe sore feet. Grieve's Herbal reported that nineteenth century American physicians recommended arnica tincture as a hair growth tonic. Homeopathic arnica is traditionally used to treat seasickness. Research published in June 2005 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that homeopathic arnica can reduce post-partum bleeding.
Precautions
Not for internal use. Do not swallow any form of arnica except homeopathics. Repeated application to the skin can cause irritation. Do not apply to broken skin. Not recommended while pregnant or nursing.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
