The name of the herb arnica and the number 30 are commonly found together on homeopathic remedies sold in groceries, and drug and natural food stores. Arnica 30C is a common form of this popular homeopathic remedy, which is used to alleviate pain caused by various injuries, illnesses and medical procedures. Although many people use arnica 30C routinely as an important part of their medical regimen, the science regarding this and other homeopathic remedies is questionable. Many members of the medical establishment do not accept the efficacy of this homeopathic preparation.
Arnica
Arnica, whose botanical name is Arnica montana, is a perennial plant that grows to a height of between 1 and 2 feet and has yellow-orange flowers that are two to three inches across. It is native to Europe but is also grown in North America. The fresh or dried flower heads are used in medicine, according to the University of Maryland Medical School.
Forms of Arnica
Arnica is available in the form of topical creams and ointments and also as tinctures and oils for the preparation of compresses, poultices and other topical preparations. These are used to treat bruises, sprains, muscle aches, wounds, rheumatic pain, swelling from insect bites and pain from fractures. Arnica should not be taken internally except in the form of homeopathic remedies, according to the University of Maryland Medical School.
Arnica 30C
Homeopathic remedies come in varying strengths, and the 30C potency of arnica is one of the most common found on the shelves of drug- and natural food stores. It is the highest of the low-potency range of homeopathic remedies, so fewer doses are needed of 30C than would be needed of 6C or 12C. It is used to treat symptoms that are in need of immediate attention and are accompanied by considerable pain, according to "The Complete Homeopathy Handbook."
How Arnica 30C is Made
The arnica flower heads are dissolved in a mixture of 90 percent alcohol and 10 percent distilled water, allowed to stand for two to four weeks being shaken occasionally, then strained. The resulting "mother tincture" is mixed with more of the alcohol/water mixture at the rate of one drop of mother tincture for every 99 drops of alcohol/water and shaken. The resulting mixture is again diluted at a rate of one drop per 99 or water/alcohol, and so on until 30 times is reached. In homeopathy, the more times a remedy has been diluted, the more potent it is. Thus 30C is more potent than 12C, according to "The Complete Guide to Homeopathy."
Uses of Arnica 30C
Arnica is given most commonly as first aid following an accident or injury, surgery, bereavement, childbirth or dental treatment. It also is given to treat arthritic pain, fevers and skin conditions. It works especially well for people who deny that they are ill or try to dismiss the severity of their medical conditions, reports the "Encyclopedia of Homeopathy."
References
- University of Maryland Medical School: Arnica
- "The Complete Homeopathic Handbook"; Miranda Castro; 1990
- "The Complete Guide to Homeopathy: The Principles and Practice of Treatment"; Andrew Lockie and Nicola Geddes; 1995
- "Encyclopedia of Homeopathy"; Andrew Lockie; 2006
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