Arnica Montana is an herb with well-known healing qualities of an herbal cure long familiar in Europe and North America.

Arnica Monatana - Arinca photo.

Arnica montana

Arnica is also known as Wolf’s bane, mountain tobacco or mountain daisy. 30 species of Arnica are sometimes grown in herb gardens in the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere with 20 species native to the Pacific Northwest. Although Arnica plants can be poisonous if taken internally in sufficient quantities, they are thought to have well-known soothing qualities long familiar in Europe and North America.

Arnica Montana - Plant Type:

Perennial - Medicinal, flowering herb.

Arnica - growing zones:

USDA Plant Maturity Zones: Cooler areas of zones 6 to 9

best Soil Type for Growing arnica:

Arnica can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, even very poor, acid soils if it has enough moisture.
Arnica Montana will thrive in a mixture of loam soil, peat moss and sand.

Propagation of arnica seed and cultivation of arnica plants:

Arnica is best propagated in the spring through arnica seed or by root division.
An herb garden with full sun is the best spot to grow arnica.

How does arnica work? Uses of the herb Arnica:

Arnica is not a homeopathic "constitutional medicine". This means Arnica is only used in the suppression or relief of immediate symptoms. Arnica is NOT aimed at eventual cure of the patient.
Arnica tincture, used in a compress, promotes tissue regeneration and increases the rate at which internal bleeding is absorbed. The active components in arnica can stimulate the flow of blood, which allows the blood that has collected in the tissue to be carried off more quickly. This action helps reduce pain, alleviate swelling and heal bruises and hematomas faster.
Arnica extract is said to help boost an animal's resistance to bacterial infection by stimulating white blood cells to clear away harmful bacteria.

What does arnica do?

Native Americans used arnica in ointments and tinctures; a salve made with arnica helped relax stiff or sore muscles and the tincture was used in treating wounds.
Arnica is still used externally in healing liniments, salves, arnica gel or cream for bruising, to ease pain and inflammation of bruises, sprains and wounds.

Side effects of Arnica montana can be dangerous; any internal use of Arnica can be poisonous.

Arnica is considered an irritant to internal organs and can damage the heart, or at least trigger significant increases in blood pressure.
Arnica users are cautioned against using arnica in skin applications because it can cause skin rash or irritation in some.