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Common Name/s: |
Other Name/s: |
Botanical name/s: |
| Arnica |
Leopard's bane, Mountain
tobacco, European Arnica |
Arnica Montana |
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General description and domicile:
Arnica is a perennial plant that hardly exceeds twelve inches in height and has
marigold-like yellow flowers. It grows well high on the slopes of mountains just
below the snow level.
Arnica Montana is a highly toxic herb to the extent that modern herbalists
tend to use other, less toxic, herbs if possible. Even when used externally it
is wise to exercise care as extended application can cause inflammation. It is
still regarded as an important homeopathic remedy. Originally
used in Central Europe the herb has been used for topical applications for hundreds
of years in most European countries. Because it is so irritant to mucus
membranes it will cause severe gastric complaints if ingested and in significant
doses could even be fatal. Even as a topical compress for muscular aches
prolonged use will cause severe inflammation exacerbating rather than curing the
problem. Do not ingest!
Part used and extraction:
Flowers and root.
Remedy preparation:
Tincture and cream
History:
Although this herb was popular with mountain climbers who chewed the herb to
relieve the pain of inflamed muscles and as a soothing compress for bruises and
sprains it is toxic in significant doses and an irritant to mucus membranes.
The leaves of the plant were also dried and smoked (hence the name Mountain
tobacco).
Used for treatment of:
Sprains
Bruising
Properties:
Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Constituents:
Dihydrohelanin: A Sesquiterpene lactone, see below, has been
studied for its apparently strong anti-inflammatory effect.
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Sesquiterpene lactones: There are thousands of sesquiterpene
lactones known. They mostly occur as a combination of several sesquiterpene
lactones and are more prevalent in leaves and flowers.
Commonly valued for
the digestive bitter benefits sesquiterpene lactones are also anti-inflammatory,
antiprotozoal, antibacterial and antimicrobial. A large majority of
sesquiterpene lactones irritate the skin on contact causing dermatitis and often
acute inflammation. Used in China as an infertility agent in men it should
not be used in this context as it could cause permanent infertility in men.
Sesquiterpenes have antifungal, antibacterial and anaesthetic properties.
It is also thought that they
prevent migraines and can be used as antibiotics and to treat Malaria but there
is very little in depth testing results available to support these claims.
Lactones: A lactone is an Ester that's
functional group has become part of a ring structure with carbon atoms.
Lactones are widely present in the plant kingdom and many are expectorants and
febrifuges. |
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Flavonoids: Flavonoids occur (as white and yellow plant pigments
found almost as commonly as chlorophyll) as Glycosides or in a free state. In
plants it is essential for protecting plant tissue from UV radiation and acts as
antioxidants. As pigments it is also responsible for Autumn colors in leaves and
yellow/red pigmentation in flowers. Laboratory experiments have been
conducted on the beneficiary effect of Flavonoids on the heart and circulatory
system. Flavonoids are also used to mitigate stress, especially environmental
stress. Flavonoids are often used for their antioxidant effect against free
radicals. There are also strong indications that they have antiviral,
anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive properties but dosage has not been
determined which will obviously have a profound effect on their efficacy as a
component of this herb. a Volatile oil containing ThymolThymol: A phenolic volatile oil.
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Phenolic oils: Found only in a select few aromatic herbs
Phenolic volatile oils are very potent and caustic, expectorant, antispasmodic
and antimicrobial but very irritant to the mucus membrane. Phenols can be either
Monoterpene (thymol, carvacrol found in thyme and oregano) expectorant,
antispasmodic and antimicrobial which is very irritant to the mucus membrane or Phenylpropanoid (Euganol which is widely distributed in plants) that is
much more benign while having the same properties. |
* Statements made
have not been evaluated by American Food and Drug Authority or similar board
or authority of any other country.
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