Arnica, also commonly known as arnica tincture, is a plant that has been used since the middle centuries to cure a variety of ailments. Applied as a cream, ointment or linament, arnica is best known for its ability to lessen the severity of muscle aches, reduce the swelling in sprained joints and heal wounds.
Description of the Plant
Growing 1 to 2 feet high, arnica is a perennial. It is often recognized by the yellow-orange daisy-like flowers that blossom on it. The flowers grow on the stalks which are round with hairlike follicles. It has bright, green leaves, the upper leaves toothed and hairy, the lower ones rounded.
Forms
The arnica plant itself is not used as a cure-all. It is the flower where the medicinal qualities come from. Both fresh and dried arnica flowers are used to make ointments, salves, capsules and topical creams.
Topical Uses
Arnica is most commonly used as a topical solution to a variety of ailments. It is not known exactly how it works but as a ointment, cream or salve, it is applied to areas of bruising, skin irritation, muscle aches, joint stiffness, cuts and inflammation to relieve the symptoms.
Homeopathic Uses
In general, arnica can be taken as a supplement to treat the same ailments as the topical solution does. As a homeopathic medicine, there is very little of the plant that is actually detectable in the supplement. This can be looked at as a good thing because high doses of arnica can exacerbate stomach irritations and allergies.
Dosage
In high dosage, arnica should not be taken internally without a doctors supervision. In undiluted form, arnica can cause side effects, such as dizziness, tremors and heart irregularities. It can irritate mucus membranes leading to vomiting and, in some cases, may be fatal when ingested. It can also be applied topically but should only be administered under the watchful eye of a physician as it can lead to skin irritation, eczema, blisters and peeling.
Member Comments