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Arnica montana (Compositae)
ARNICA, LEOPARD'S BANE, MOUNTAIN TOBACCO
This mountain plant is widely taken
in homeopathic doses for bruising, wounds, and shock. However, as it is an
irritant if taken internally in large amounts, herbalists only apply it
externally.
Widely used across Europe by physicians since the 16th century, arnica was claimed by
Goethe to have saved his life after a serious fever. It
is a perennial with a creeping rhizome that sends up a rosette of small downy leaves in the first year.
A tall stem with few leaves but large daisy-like flowers rises in the
summer of the second year.
PARTS USED
Flowers, root.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Sesquiterpene lactones;
flavonoids; methylated flavonoids; volatile oil containing thymol; arnicin (a bitter); mucilage.
ACTIONS
Counter-irritant; promotes wound healing; dilates the blood vessels.
MEDICINAL USE
Applied externally on bruises and sprains when the skin is unbroken, on chilblains,
and for alopecia neurotica (hair loss due to anxiety). Used internally only in homeopathic doses (Arnica) for shock, pain, inflammation,
epilepsy, and sea sickness. It irritates the digestive tract and kidneys if taken internally at higher than homeopathic doses.
PREPARATIONS
Tincture, cream, homeopathic remedies.
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