The Medicinal Uses of Arnica

Earlier this summer, our family was blessed to be able to enjoy a week’s vacation together camping in Eastern Idaho.  However, it wasn’t the long-anticipated trip into Yellowstone due to all the flooding that occurred, and we were a little sad about that.  Fortunately, Buttercup discovered a beautiful spot for us right on the Snake River in an area virtually devoid of other campers.  Hundreds of pelicans flew in each evening and departed each morning.  Osprey fished.  I don’t know what the bald eagles were doing, but we spent time watching them, too.  I’m still grateful they are our national symbol instead of the turkey that Benjamin Franklin lobbied for.

In bloom everywhere at that time were lots of yellow daisy-like flowers.  One of them happened to be arnica.  As someone who is not really looking forward to the joys of arthritis (the grandmother that I take after was plagued by it for nearly 20 years), I was really excited to find it growing in such abundance around our campsite and spent 30 minutes or so picking the blooms.

HARVEST

The flowers are most popular for collection, though the entire plant is medicinal, the blooms and roots being the strongest.[1]  Indeed, this herb should only be gathered when in flower, as that is when the active constituents are strongest. [2]

PREPARATIONS

Liniment.  Steep 1:3 fresh plant in 70% rubbing alcohol for 1 week.[3]

Ointment.  Cover the recently dried flower with coconut or olive oil and heat in a double boiler for 1 hour.  Add about 1/10 as much beeswax pastilles and heat and stir until melted.  

Poultice.  Fresh plant is best.

Salve.  Cover the recently dried flower with coconut or olive oil and heat in a double boiler for 1 hour.  Add about 1/8 as much beeswax pastilles and heat and stir until melted. 

Tincture.  Fresh plant, 1:2 in 50% alcohol; dried flowers, 1:5 in 50% alcohol.  Dried root, 1:5 in 60% alcohol.[4] 

MODERN USAGE

Charles Kane writes that arnica is best used for painful injuries in which the healing process has stalled or slowed down.[5]

• Musculoskeletal
• Arthritis, especially arthritis aggravated by cold[6]
• Sprains[7] [8] [9]
• Strains[10] [11]
• Swollen feet (plant poultice)[12] [13]
• Skin
• Bruises (plant poultice)[14] [15] [16]
• Cuts (plant poultice)[17]
• Chilblains[18]

CAUTION.  Do not use internally.[19]  Do not apply to broken skin. [20]  A few people may develop severe skin reactions.[21]

CONTRAINDICATIONS.  Avoid use in pregnancy.

Links to related posts:

How to Make a Salve 

Introduction to Tinctures  

Simple Guidelines for Making Your Own Liniments 

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[1] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 35.

[2] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 35.

[3] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 36.

[4] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 35.

[5] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[6] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[7] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 251.

[8] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[9] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[10] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[11] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[12] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 251.

[13] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[14] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 251.

[15] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[16] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[17] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[18] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 251.

[19] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 136-37.

[20] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 58.

[21] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 251.