The alpine plant Arnica is an important ingredient when dealing with aches and pains. Arnica can be applied externally or taken internally as a homeopathic remedy to assist with bruises, sprains, muscular aches and joint pains. Our organic Arnica is grown to strict biodynamic standards to ensure purity and quality.

The History

Arnica is mentioned as far back as the 11th century, and was used across Europe by physicians from the 16th century onwards for wounds.

Today the whole plant is often used in natural medicines, both fresh and dried, depending on the remedy. It is one of the most versatile complementary remedies. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, famous for soothing aches and pains. Legend has it that shepherds reported that sheep and goats grazing in the mountains would eat arnica when injured from falls. Even in cases of severe injury, the animals swiftly recovered. The story goes that the shepherds themselves also tried the plant and found that when they were injured, arnica helped speed their recovery (we do not recommend you try this as the raw plant can be toxic!).

The Plant

Arnica is commonly known as Leopard’s Bane or Mountain Tobacco. It is a perennial with a creeping rhizome that sends up a rosette of small downy leaves in the first year. It has a tall stem with few leaves but large daisy-like yellow flowers, which rise in the summer of the second year, their smiling faces searching out the intense sunshine.

The plant is native to the mountainous regions of Central Europe, southern Norway, southern Russia in the east and Lithuania in the north.

Cultivation for Weleda

This Alpine plant has proved difficult to grow in abundance in our Derbyshire herb gardens where our gardens are located, as our soils are too heavy and damp and there is an insufficient intensity of light. It needs a well drained siliceous soil; lime is harmful to it even in small quantities. Arnica is happiest where there are certain bacteria in the soil, or it won’t form runners. It also prefers colder climates, where it can lie beneath the snow in winter, so our biodynamic arnica is grown in the Scottish Black Isles where the cold dry air encourages healthy plants.

The plants are harvested for tincture production at the end of June, and transported in the cool early hours of the morning to be processed immediately, while the plants are fresh and full of vitality. The petals remain vibrant yellow as though they have harnessed the intensity of the mountain light in their flowers.

Key Properties

Arnica soothes inflammation and dilates the blood vessels. Applied to the skin, it promotes healing of damaged tissues and speeds up the repair mechanism, although it should not be applied to broken skin.

Not surprisingly, arnica is a great sports remedy, widely used for soft tissue injuries and muscular pain by sports injury specialists, physiotherapists and massage therapists.

It is only recommended for topical application if the skin is unbroken as it can sometimes irritate open wounds.

Weleda products which contain Arnica:

•	Arnica 6X Tablets	For accident upset
•	Arnica Lotion	For the symptomatic relief of sprains
•	Arnica Ointment	For the symptomatic relief of bruising
•	Arnica 6C Tablets
•	Arnica 30C Tablets
•	Combudoron Lotion	For minor burns and stinging rashes
•	Combudoron Ointment	Relieves symptoms of stings, bites and minor burns
•	Combudoron Spray	Relieves symptoms of insect bites
•	Massage Balm with Arnica	For the symptomatic relief of muscular pain, stiffness and backache
•	Rheumadoron 102A Drops (P)	Symptomatic relief of muscular rheumatic pain
•	Rheumadoron Ointment (P)	Symptomatic relief of muscular rheumatic pain
•	Skin Tone Lotion	Relieves aching legs and revitalises tired limbs

(P) Please note: that medicines with this symbol are only available via a Pharmacy so not available on the Weleda website. You can call Weleda on 0115 944 8222 for further information, including stockist information and how to buy.

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© Weleda 2011