Subject: ARNICA MONTANA

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ARNICA MONTANA

HEALTHY WAY MAGAZINE

ISSUE 30

ARTICLE 9

 

The German scientist and writer, Goethe (1749-1832) claimed Arnica

had saved his life. The history of this superb herb, Arnica montana,

goes back centuries. Known also as Leopard's Bane, it was discovered

as a medicinal plant by Europeans in the 16th century.

 

Growing wild in alpine meadows, it once covered the regions of

Europe and America with bright orange-yellow daisy like flowers. In

the 1950s Swiss Naturopath Alfred Vogel wrote that, " Arnica may be

found anywhere in Switzerland up to a height of 8,500 feet. " Perhaps

this is how it became known as Mountain Tobacco. Now it is becoming

so scarce in its wild form that it is protected in many parts of

Europe.

 

Arnica is a perennial herb, which has a tall stem but very few

leaves. The large flowers, most of which are bent back to some

extent, bloom in the summer months of its second year. It is only

the flower heads that are now used medicinally, and they are

difficult to grow successfully, needing patient and careful

cultivation in a specific type of soil.

 

Historically, Arnica was used both internally and externally.

However, during the course of time, it has been used externally much

more and today is only available internally as a homoeopathic

remedy.

 

Applied externally, it is a very popular remedy for easing the pain

and swelling of bruises as it is analgesic and has healing

properties. But we now know that this amazing herb is beneficial for

arthritic aches and pains and even for muscular aches and sprains.

It has been clinically proven for its anti-inflammatory action on

topical application.

 

In fact, one of the most recent clinical trials investigated how

beneficial a gel made from fresh arnica tincture is for

osteoarthritis of the knee. (Arnica Montana Gel in Osteoarthritis of

the knee: An Open Multicentre Trial, Kneusel, Weber & Suter, 2002)

 

The trial lasted six weeks, and almost 90 percent of the patients

improved. After the third week a significant reduction of pain and

stiffness in the knee was reported. As so many people suffer from

arthritis it is a blessing that this herb may help, and of course it

can be used alongside glucosamine sulphate and Devil's Claw

internally.

 

So now there are even more reasons to store this treasure of a herb

in your medicine chest.

 

http://www.healthywaymagazine.com/issue30/09_arnica_montana.html