Arnica montana
Family
Compositae
Parts Used
leaves and flowers
Properties
Stimulant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory,
antibiotic, oxytocic
Background and Description
Arnica has been
used for centuries in Europe and by native North Americans to reduce swelling
and bruising, and speed recovery time from traumatic injuries.
Uses
Arnica
is mostly used externally to treat bruises, sprains, and other traumatic
injuries or aches. It does this by
preventing blood platelets from gathering at the site of injury. It reverses the effects of pain causing
prostaglandins, relieving tired and aching muscles. Applied before physical activity Arnica has been shown to be
and excellent preventative, reducing pain and stiffness.
Preparation and Dosing
Externally,
use freely as oil or liniment.
Internally, see notes
Macerate
fresh flowers and leaves in warm oil for 3 days, then strain and squeeze out
through cloth. Use on injuries
involving no broken skin. For
liniment, follow the same process but with alcohol, such as rubbing or vodka,
as the base
For nausea and motion sickness use 3x homeopathic dilution
Notes/Cautions
An
experienced practitioner should oversee internal use. Used in other than homeopathic or minute doses, Arnica is
poisonous!
Should
not be used by pregnant women. Do
not use for more than 2 weeks at a time.
i am not a doctor, and I am not licensed to diagnose or prescribe. this post is for informational purposes only. Please research for yourself and consult with a professional before use.
Sources
The Way of Herbs, by Michael Tierra
Prescription for Herbal
Healing, by Phyllis Balch
Picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koeh-015.jpg
