Arnica

Arnica Montana.

Mountain Tobacco, Leopards Bane.

Arnica is an aromatic perennial growing up to two feet in height. It has downy egg-shaped leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers. The leaves form a flat rosette, from the center of which rises a flower stalk. The rhizome is dark brown, cylindrical, usually curved, and bears brittle wiry rootlets on the under surface. Arnica grows in mountain woods and pastures in central Europe, the Pyrenees, Siberia, Canada, and the northwestern U.S.

Arnica has been used extensively in European folk a substance used in managing discofort. Its flower and root have been used as a Discomfort reliever, expectorant, and stimulant. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), the German philosopher and poet, drank arnica tea to ease his Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles in old age. Internal use is extremely risky and is not recommended. In countries where arnica is indigenous, it has long been a popular remedy for a variety of problems.

Bruises
Sprains
Muscle Discomfort or joint soreness
Chilblains, when skin in unbroken

Arnica improves the local blood supply and speeds the healing process. It soothes and heals skin wounds and irritations. Repeated applications may produce sever soreness. Most often an ointment or compress is used for external application. 
Generally, the plant is taken internally only at a homeopathic dilution, principally for shock, injury, and Discomfort. If taken as a decoction or tincture, it stimulates the circulation and can be a valuable Favorable Effects for Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles and a weak or failing heart. It can be toxic even at low dosage, so it's rarely used in this way.

• tincture full strength externally on hypersensitive skin or on broken skin due to contact dermatitis from sesquiterpene lactones or the irritant volatile oil components thymol, thymol methylether and b-terpineol contained in the tincture (empirical)
• prolonged use externally can lead to allergic dermititis (empirical) from the sesqiterpene lactones such as helenalin acetate (topically on guinea pigs)

Arnica contains a bitter yellow crystalline principle called Arnicin, and a volatile oil. Tannin and phulin are also present, along with sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids. The flowers are said to contain more Arnicin than the rhizome, but no tannin. The volatile oil contains thymol, mucilage, and polysaccharides.

An arnica ointment is usually rubbed on the skin to soothe and heal bruises, sprains, and muscle aches. Use sparingly.

Arnica is poisonous. Do NOT take internally. Dermatitis may result from repeated external use. Arnica is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.