Arnica Montana - Health Benefits and Side Effects

Arnica Flowers (Arnica montana)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution:Bernd Haynold

Botanical Name: Arnica montana
Other Common Names:
Leopard's bane, common arnica, mountain arnica, mountain daisy, wolfsbane, mountain tobacco.

Habitat:
Arnica is found around the world in sub-artic zones. It is found from Europe to Siberia, in the Pyrenees, and throughout Canada and northern sections of the United States.

Plant Description:
The arnica grows a rosette of leaves which may reach 5-8 cm in length. The flowers are yellow or orange, with approximately 11 petals arranged the central flower. Flowers are harvested during summer, and rhizomes are collected when cold weather causes the plant to die back.

Plant Part Used:
Flowers, rhizome.

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Arnica Montana Tincture
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Arnica Cream - 0.9 oz
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Therapeutic Benefits and Uses of Arnica Montana and Claims

It has been used in folk medicine for ages, for its ability to speed the healing of tissues.
Arnica montana is widely held to improve blood circulation, allowing oxygen to get to the cell faster.
Used topically, arnica is touted as a great way to speed the healing of bruises and sprains, and it is used as an alternative treatment in sports related injuries of this type.

Arnica
(Arnica montana)

Medications made from this plant are a preferential treatment for leg ulcers in diabetics patients.

Folk remedies say that arnica is effective in preventing various diseases by taking it at the first indication of illness.

Arnica is thought to be an effective herbal treatment for bacterial infections, including salmonella and listeria. Comprehensive testing has not been performed to prove or disprove this.

It is possible that arnica can speed up the healing process after a surgical procedure, and as an anaesthetic to reduce pain during surgery, including dental procedures.

In folk medicine, arnica has been used for migraine and tension headaches. It has recognized sedative effects that relive pain, and relax muscles.

Diluted arnica packs may be applied to an abscess, reducing swelling, and speeding up the absorption of toxins and allowing tissue to heal quickly.

Applied topically to unbroken skin, arnica patches relive pain, similar to commercial pain patches.

In rheumatic joints, a topical application reduces swelling and pain, offering dual relief for those who suffer from painful joints.

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Dosage and Administration

Arnica is rarely administered in a pure form. Instead tinctures are prepared, and can then be used as the basis from which other treatment methods are created.

Side Effects and Possible Interactions of Arnica Montana

Arnica is a very potent plant, and some of its effects, especially at high doses can be fatal. For this reason, it is rarely used as an internal medication today, and even topical ointment are generally confined to areas where the skin has not been broken. Arnica can cause dizziness, tremors, and heart irregularities. Other possible side effects may include vomiting, muscle weakness, and an increased risk of bleeding. Arnica should only be used under the supervision of a qualified care giver, because incorrect use could result in extreme side effects, including death.

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