Arnica montana

 Arnica Montana [Image]. [2014]. Retrieved from: http://www.hooping.org/2011/08/how-hoop-bruises-can-help-your-flow/arnica/

Latin Binomial:

Arnica Montana 

 (Keville, 1991, p.45).

Common name:

Leopards Bane, Mountain Tabaco 

(Grieve, 1971, p. 55).      

Family:

Asteraceae 

(Hoffman, 1990, p.176).

Parts used:

Roots and flowers 

(Grieve, 1971, p. 55).                        

                        

Constituents:                    

• Essential oil (thymol), 
• Sesquiterpene lactones (arnicin helenalin), 
• Flavonoids, 
• Polysaccharides, 
• Insulin, 
• Carotenoids, 
• Tannins 

(Keville, 1991, p.45).

Actions:

Topical only: 

Anti-inflammatory

Antiecchymotic (against bruises)

Analgesic

Antimicrobial 

(Bone, 2003, p.70)

Indications:

• Arnica is used topically in the context for the following (Bone, 2003, p.70).
•  Chronic venous insufficiency, particularly for feelings of heaviness in the legs, edema (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• External treatment of skin lesions, eczema or tendon and joint inflammation (Craciunescu, Constantin, Gaspar, Toma, Utoiu and Moldovan, 2012, p. 6-7). 
•  Muscle aches (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• Bruises and sprains (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• Inflamed insect bites (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• Hematomas, dislocations, edema resulting from fracture, rheumatic muscle and joint problems, superficial phlebitis (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• Furunculosis (Bone, 2003, p.70).
• Painful swelling, unbroken chilblains, alopecia neurotica (Bone, 2003, p.70).

Contraindications:

Arnica is not to be taken internally; it should be only applied to unbroken skin and withdrawn on first sign of dermatitis (Bone, 2003, p. 72). It is also contraindicated in individuals with a known allergy to Arnica (Bone, 2003, p. 72). Avoid use in pregnancy due to uterine stimulation action (DerMarderosian, A & Beutler, J, 2010, p. 59).

Cautions:

Not for internal use due to it being found to cause accelerated pulse, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and death (International Journal of Toxicology, 2001, p. 5)

Not for prolonged external use as it has been shown to present with dermal irritation (International Journal of Toxicology, 2001, p. 5).

Dosing:

There is no useful information has been generated by the several clinical trials reported, however clinical used of arnica in nonhemeopathic herbal medicine considered a dose of 100mg to be typical, however it is important that due to toxicity, arnica should not be used internally (DerMarderosian, A & Beutler, J, 2010, p. 59). Dilute a 1:5 tincture five times water and apply two to three times per day to the affected area (Bone, 2003, p. 72). Ointment should contain 10% to 25% tincture applied two to three times a day (Bone, 2003, p. 72).

Combinations:

For a lotion it can be combined with distilled witch hazel (Hoffman, 1988, p. 176)

References: 

Bone, K. (2003) A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs; herbal formulations for the individual patient. Churchill, Livingstone: Missouri.

Hoffman, D. (1988) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.

Keville, K. (2009). The illustrated herb encyclopedia; a complete culinary, cosmetic, medicinal and ornamental guide to herbs. A Friedman Group Books: NSW. 

DerMardersosin, A., Beutler., J. (2010). The review of natural products: the most complete source of natural product information (6^th edition). USA: Wolters Kluwer health.