Arnica is a perennial plant with oval-shaped leaves and daisy-like flowers. Arnica grows 0.3 to 0.6 m and is often used in herbal remedies, according to Drugs.com. Often the flowers are used, but the roots and rhizomes are also added to tinctures. Arnica root preparations are used for pain relief, but consult a health-care professional before using any herbal remedy, including arnica.
Pain Relief
Topical administration of arnica ointment is effective in reducing painful sensations, especially in patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Arnica is just as effective in relieving pain as more commonly known medications, such as ibuprofen. A 2007 study in "Rheumatology International" reports that patients taking arnica evidenced the same reduction in pain as those taking ibuprofen. Furthermore, the risk of potential side effects was similar between arnica and ibuprofen. However, though arnica does seem to help with pain relief, talk to a doctor before adding arnica to your treatment regimen.
Preparations and Dosage
Tinctures of arnica are produced when arnica extract is combined with 70 percent ethanol at a ratio of 1 to 10, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Tinctures containing arnica are often combined with water to create compresses and poultices. Various creams and ointments are made using approximately 15 percent arnica. Applying these various preparations to the painful area causes an analgesic effect.
Side Effects
Short-term use of small doses of topical arnica preparations are generally safe. Repeated use of arnica causes severe inflammation, itching, blisters, allergic rashes and skin ulcers, according to the American Cancer Society. Preparations with a high concentration of arnica cause more severe skin irritations. If arnica ointment penetrates the skin, due to an open wound or other means, more serious and lasting cutaneous reactions arise.
Poisonous Effects
Avoid ingesting arnica or using any oral preparation of the plant. All parts of the arnica plant are poisonous if eaten. Ingesting arnica exposes your body to dangerously high levels of the herb. Severe gastroenteritis, difficulty breathing and cardiac arrest are all symptoms of arnica poisoning. In extreme cases, arnica poisoning is fatal. If you think you are suffering from arnica poisoning, immediately seek emergency medical treatment.
References
- "Rheumatology International"; Choosing Between NSAID and Arnica for Topical Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis in a Randomised, Double-blind Study; R. Widrig et al.; April 2007
- Drugs.com: Arnica
- American Cancer Society; Arnica; August 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Arnica; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; August 2008
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