Arnica Guide For Healing
Arnica Montana is a perennial flowering herb that is a member of the sunflower family. It is also known as leopard’s bane or mountain tobacco but its common name is Arnica. Arnica is a perennial herb that grows in the northern United States, Canada, Europe and eastern Asia.
Its roots and flowers are harvested for its healing power of bruised and swollen areas. It has been used for hundreds of years to treat pain for homeopathic healing.
Arnica works by extracting bad fluids out of the bruised area and getting cleansing fluids to the affected area to promote healing. “Out with the bad and in with the new” so to speak. Arnica is thought to increase the flow of blood to the injured area and makes bruises heal faster.
Arnica Uses
Arnica is used topically to heal bruises. It can be applied by Arnica cream, Arnica gel or Arnica ointments. Arnica is commonly used as a tincture and applied as a compress. It is often used in sports injuries to reduce swelling and relieve the pain of overworked muscles. The result is quite remarkable when used immediately after an injury. Arnica is used by plastic surgery patients to reduce the swelling that results from cosmetic surgery. Arnica is also used to treat pain from rheumatism, inflammation from insect bites, sprains and wounds.
Arnica is also used in homeopathic preparations but in a much diluted form. The reason it is diluted is to insure that it will do no harm because of its strength yet it will still retain enough power to heal. The goal of a homeopathic dose of arnica is to restore health without harming the body. All homeopathic medicines are made according to the guidelines established by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.
Possible Side Effects of Arnica
Arnica irritates mucous membranes and may cause stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Arnica is not known to result in many allergies but if it was could cause a skin rash or mout sores. It should not be ingested orally because it is poisonous and highly toxic. Full doses of Arnica may cause gastroenteritis, cardiac arrest or even death. Homeopathic doses of arnica are highly unlikely to exert any adverse reactions because of the minimal amount ingested.
