What Are the Benefits of Arnica Montana?

Arnica Montana is a perennial herb with antiseptic and pain-killing properties. The flowers and roots of this herb are widely used in homeopathy as an effective treatment for bruises, sprains, dislocations and skin inflammations. Most commonly available as an ointment or oil applied topically to unbroken skin, Arnica Montana is also available in pill and powder form as well as a mouthwash.

History

• Arnica Montana is native to mountainous areas of Europe and cultivated in Asia and North America. It has been used for centuries to treat sprains, bruises and wounds as well as insect bites, pain and fever.

Benefits

• Arnica Montana reduces pain associated with inflammation, stems the flow of bleeding and initiates the healing process. It is effective in relieving ongoing physical pains such as rheumatism and sore backs, and can be used to treat traumatic shock.

  It also reduces discomfort and bleeding during childbirth, speeds recovery after operations and has been observed to resolve or prevent the effects of jet-lag.

  Arnica Montana has also proven effective in reducing symptoms associated with the common cold, cough, bronchitis, fever and sore throat.

Warning

• Only highly diluted homeopathic preparations of Arnica Montana should be taken internally, due to the risk of heart-damage associated with high doses found in herbal preparations (such as home-brewed teas and tinctures).

Famous Ties

• Goethe, an 18th century German writer and poet, drank arnica tea to relieve chest pains.

Fun Fact

• Arnica Montana is also sometimes called Mountain Tobacco due to the shape of its leaves, which resemble tobacco. Other names include Leopard's Bane and Wolf's Bane.