Arnica

The True Arnica (Arnica montana), also known as mountain arnica and mountain root, is a composite plant that primarily grows in European mountains – including the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Balkans as well as southern Scandinavia. It prefers unfertilized mountain meadows. The plant is toxic when taken orally. Since it is now rarely found, it is protected by law and therefore cannot be picked.

We advise against a DIY application – it is better to opt for controlled products from the market. Manufacturers use specially cultivated plants for this purpose, ensuring the safety of their ingredients and toxicity levels!

In phytotherapy, arnica is considered one of the most important plants that Hildegard of Bingen also praised. The ancient Germans already used it. In the 16th century, it entered scientific medicine and has been indispensable in our pharmacies since the 18th century.

Arnica is generally used for external application. In the form of ointments, the plant extract helps with bruises, contusions, and similar blunt injuries. Literature attributes anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties to the herb.

Caution: As mentioned at the beginning, arnica is a toxic plant. Depending on the composition and concentration of the ingredients, ingestion can lead to respiratory disturbances and fatal paralysis!

The flowers of arnica contain flavonoids, essential oils, and helenalin, the latter being the most effective substance.

The True Arnica is a herbaceous plant that grows up to 60 centimeters tall. The stem is usually simple to slightly branched. Two to a maximum of three opposite pairs of leaves are attached to it. From May to August, the plant produces fragrant, yellow, basket-shaped flowers ranging from four and a half to eight centimeters in diameter.

In 1986, arnica was the flower of the year. Fifteen years later, the University of Würzburg awarded it the title of "Medicinal Plant of the Year 2001".