Arnica is great for:

• bruises
• bursitis and tendinitis
• carpel tunnel
• foot pain

Most people can enjoy the benefits of arnica without any side effects. Not so if you’re one of the unlucky one’s allergic to helenalin, one of the active chemicals in arnica. Regular use of the herb can result in contact dermatitis, a harmless but potentially itchy skin rash. This usually occurs in people who use the herb often or apply a too-strong tincture to the skin.

If you’re allergic to ragweed, you’ll definitely want to avoid arnica. They’re both members of the aster family, a common allergy culprit.

Arnica curbs inflammation, improves circulation, increasing the flow of healing nutrients into sore muscles while removing pain-causing injury by-preoducts such as lactic acid to build up.

Soak feet in warm water foot bath spiked with a half ounce of arnica tincture.

Use caution if you have issues with blood pressure.

The perennial arnica grows from 0.3 to 0.6 m. Oval-shaped, opposite leaves form a basal rosette close to the soil surface. Arnica has bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that, when dried, are the primary parts used. However, the roots and rhizomes are also utilized. Arnica is native to the mountainous regions of Europe and southern Russia. The unrelated plant monkshood (Aconitum spp.) is referred to as wolf’s bane.

What is Arnica used for?

General uses

Arnica and its extracts have been widely used in folk and homeopathic medicine as a treatment for acne, boils, bruises, rashes, sprains, pains, and other wounds. Overall, there does not appear to be sufficient evidence to support the use of arnica as an anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent, or to prevent bruising; however, heterogeneity of doses and delivery forms (as well as indications) in available clinical studies makes generalizations difficult.

Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses

Internal and external preparations made from the flowering heads of arnica have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Arnica was used extensively in European folk medicine and alcoholic tinctures were produced by early North American settlers to treat sore throats, as a febrifuge, and to improve circulation. Homeopathic uses included the treatment of surgical or accidental trauma, as an analgesic, and in the treatment of postoperative thrombophlebitis and pulmonary emboli. It has been used externally for acne, bruises, sprains and muscle aches. In addition, it has been used as a general topical counterirritant and a CNS stimulant, as well as an antibacterial for abrasions and gunshot wounds. Arnica is also an ingredient in hair tonics, dandruff treatments, perfumes, and cosmetics.