Arnika: medicinal properties and contraindications

Arnica, like most medicinal plants used by traditional medicine for a long time, has several names. People call it ram, mountain tobacco (this name came from America, where it is even poured into tobacco), clove, ivan ... And the ancient Greek doctor Dioscorides gave her the name "sneezing flower", because most people try to smell what he it smells, sneezing certainly begins.

Chemical composition

Due to its rich chemical composition, arnica has long been recognized as an effective drug. The main active ingredient - arnitsin - is known for its antioxidant properties.

Its rhizomes contain a large number of tannins with hemostatic and bactericidal properties. The plant enhances the effectiveness of carotenoids, in particular lutein, which give it the ability to strengthen blood vessels, lower cholesterol, maintain normal blood sugar. In addition, lutein also has antioxidant abilities.

Chemical components such as arnidiol and faradiol stimulate the rapid healing of damaged skin and accelerate its regeneration. Faradiol, exerting a locally irritating effect, helps to resolve hemorrhages faster.

The ascorbic acid and vitamin C, which are close in composition, are also components of arnica, help to heal wounds, stop the development of infections due to antiviral and antibacterial abilities, and are involved in the prevention of aging.

Noteworthy are also such components of arnica as cinarin having a vasodilating effect, related substances betaine and choline that control liver activity and bile formation, phytosterols that can normalize blood cholesterol, which has the antiseptic properties of gelenin.

The organic acids that make up the plant (they are represented by fumaric, malic, lactic, auric and palmitic) affect the blood circulation, improve it, relieve swelling, normalize bowel function, regulate acidity and slow down the aging process.

Such a component of the chemical composition as gum helps the body clear itself of toxins and helps increase the absorption capacity of the intestinal walls, which positively affects the improvement of digestion in general.

Resin, wax, and essential oil are also found in the composition of arnica, which is involved in the process of resorption of hematomas, relieving edema and pain of a rheumatoid nature.

Despite such a rich chemical composition, scientists and doctors are calling for caution in arnica, since the plant also contains alkaloids, which are useful to the body only under certain well-defined conditions. In general, since ancient times, alkaloids were considered poison, and they even soaked the arrowheads.

How it looks and where it grows

Arnica is a perennial, botanists attribute it to herbaceous plants. The height, depending on the species, can vary quite significantly with it - some varieties do not grow above 15 cm, others extend up to 80 cm and even up to 1 m!

The rhizome of the plant is creeping, shallowly located in the soil and spreads horizontally or slightly in an inclined position. The size of the rhizome is small: its usual length is about 15 cm, its thickness, as a rule, does not exceed 1 cm. But it is covered with a large number of subordinate roots, which, like threads, penetrate the soil and extract from it nutrients and moisture needed by the plant. The thickness of the adnexal roots is approximately 1 mm. The color of the rhizome on the outside is brown or brown with a red tint, inside it is white.

Arnica of the first year of life forms only a leaf rosette, no stems, no flowers have yet formed. Next year it is already a full-fledged plant: from a root leaf rosette, consisting of six leaves, a straight stem rises, branching in the upper part. Short hairs are located on the stem, like fluff, especially thick ones closer to the top of the plant.

Arnica has two types of leaves. Those that form the basal rosette are wide and attached to the petioles - so short that it may seem like they are sedentary. Their shape is oval, the edges are even. Leaves on top are slightly pubescent; longitudinal veins strongly stand out on the underside of each leaf. On the stem, leaves of a different type - they are completely sessile, even embracing the stem. Their edges are usually smooth, but they can also be slightly jagged, and the shape depends on the type of arnica: they can be oblong, ovate or lanceolate, pointed. They are arranged in pairs opposite each other, their average length is from 15 to 17 cm, width is not more than 5 cm.

The color of all leaves is thick green, the bottom of the leaf plate has a lighter shade.

At the top of the branched stalk, one to three flower baskets are formed from 2 to 5 cm in size. The flower looks like a daisy, only yellow in color. The flowering period of Arnica is from June to August, in high places - from July to September.

After flowering, yellow-green or gray-black achenes are formed, cylindrical in shape, 5 to 10 mm long. On each fruit, a well-developed crest of hairs is faded yellow. The seeds reach maturity by August-September. They, of course, participate in the process of reproduction, but still the main method is rhizomes.

The plant is considered quite rare. It is found in Europe, on the territory of the former USSR - only on the western outskirts of Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia, in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in the upper regions of the Dnieper and Transnistria, in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, in the Far East and North America.

The grass prefers mountainous-wooded areas, rises to a height of 1000 m above sea level, in the Alps Arnica can be seen at an altitude of about 2800 m. On the plains, it is found only occasionally, it likes burs, beech and mixed pine-birch forests, clearings, edges and forest glades, bushes. It grows on medium-moist sandy soils with an acid reaction in areas with humid air. You can find both a small group thicket of arnica, and meet individual, single specimens.

Kinds

In nature, there are more than 30 types of arnica, but not all are used for medicinal purposes. Most often, healing compositions are prepared on the basis of mountain arnica, leafy and Chamisso.

Mountain Arnica combines two varieties - Alpine and Unalashkinskaya.

Alpine grows up to 30 cm in height, and you can meet it not only in the European mountains, but also in North America. Its area captures the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions a little, it feels great on the Kola Peninsula, in its rather harsh rocks, and even in the tundra. Unlike other relatives, it is tolerant of dry soil and settles on mountain slopes rich in calcium among rare shrubs, as well as on bare gypsum rocks covered with mosses. At the foot, in the meadows, it is more difficult to meet her.

Arnica unalashkinskaya is slightly higher than the Alpine and grows to a height of 40 cm.Its specimens - both single and thickets - are often found on the islands: Commander and Kuril, Japanese Honshu and Hokkaido, and on the Aleutian, belonging to North America. There is a small amount in Kamchatka, where small locations of arnica are also noted.

Arnica leafy is a tall plant, reaches 80 cm. Its native places are the steppes of the North American continent. But it is quite simple, unlike other varieties of arnica, cultivated, so you can meet it in different regions.

Arnica Chamisso is named after the botanist who first described this species of plant. It is found in the Far East and Sakhalin - in mountainous terrain and mixed forests along rivers. It grows up to 80 cm in height and differs from counterparts in orange flowers.

Arnika Sakhalin is also noteworthy. Of the entire large botanical family, this is the highest - individual specimens, sometimes, grow up to a meter. Its area is the Russian Far East; Sakhalin Arnica is not found anywhere else in the world.

Collection and storage

For medical and cosmetic purposes, flower baskets are prepared along with small (about 1 cm) segments of the stem on which the flower is attached. The second and third decades of June are suitable for the collection of raw materials.

To get high-quality raw materials, it is better to choose a nice day, closer to dinner, when the dew has dried. To dry, you need to choose a place where you could spread the flowers freely so that they weathered immediately from all sides. It is impossible to turn over and stir up raw materials, since the inflorescences become quite fragile and quickly crumble. In addition, the place should be dark.

Cover the collected inflorescences with gauze to make them inaccessible to flies who are not averse to lay eggs directly in the flowers. Arnica usually dries in a week.

It is quite difficult to comply with all of the above conditions, so it’s worth considering and evaluating: it may be more convenient to dry the raw materials in an electric dryer, while setting the temperature to no more than 50 degrees.

They store dried arnica also in a dark room with good ventilation, in such conditions it does not lose its beneficial properties for two years. It must be remembered that uncontrolled collection is prohibited, since the plant is included in the Red Books of the USSR, Belarus and Russia.

The healing properties of mountain arnica

1. Arnica flowers are able to stop blood, enhance uterine contractions and stimulate the production of bile. In small doses, they tone the nervous system, and in large doses they can become a means of preventing seizures and have a sedative effect.
2. Due to the action of the flowers, the vessels of the brain expand, which was previously used to restore functions during the rehabilitation period after hemorrhages. In addition, among the beneficial effects of flowers is the ability to lower blood pressure without a side effect.
3. Compositions based on arnica root have a stimulating effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. They expand the vessels that saturate the heart with oxygen, thereby increasing blood flow in them, which is used for myocarditis, angiospasm and atherosclerosis, when the lumen of the vessels is critically narrowed. Arnica is effective for heart weakness and angina pectoris.
4. Arnica tincture has found application in gynecology as a hemostatic and contracting agent, which is in demand after childbirth or abortion, when the uterine’s own contractility is reduced. In addition, it is used to treat patients with fibromyomas, polyps, cysts, uterine inflammation, and various menstrual irregularities.
5. To quickly resolve hematomas and restore normal blood circulation, Arnica is prescribed to patients who have suffered a concussion or hemorrhage in the brain.Bruises, bruises, sprains, abrasions have been smeared with arnica for a long time, and its effectiveness is recognized by modern medicine.
6. In the list of diseases in which arnica agents are used - gallstone disease, cholecystitis, cholangitis, hepatitis.
7. Arnica is indispensable for solving many skin problems: inflammation, ulcers, rash, frostbite and burns.
8. Dentists also have arnica compounds in their arsenal: they treat periodontal disease, stomatitis, gingivitis. In addition, it can soothe toothache. All this is possible thanks to the anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, analgesic effects of arnica and its ability to restore the epithelium.

The use of arnica in traditional medicine

Arnica has been known in Western Europe since the 11th century. A jar of arnica ointment was in the travel bag of every medieval knight; it was considered miraculous, capable of instantly healing all wounds. And with joint injuries of a large area, cold lotions from a decoction of a medicinal plant were applied to sore spots.

In Soviet times, Arnica was part of the Pharmacopoeia, it was widely used in all hospitals. Currently, the plant is not so actively used, doctors mainly prescribe decoctions and tinctures from it. Doctors from other countries use flower extract and herbal patch.

Arnica is one of the first plants that homeopaths began to treat, most often with injuries. Traditional medicine remains faithful to Arnica and widely uses it as a diaphoretic and diuretic to treat flu and bronchitis, diarrhea and fever. And for wound healing, it is still considered one of the best medicinal plants.

From stomatitis and periodontal disease

Brew a glass of freshly boiled water with a tablespoon of Arnica inflorescences and insist for half an hour under the closed lid. After filtering, rinse your mouth. It can also be used to treat throat with angina. Repeat the procedure up to 5 times a day.

From periodontal disease and gum bleeding

Make a tincture of a tablespoon of fresh arnica flowers and 100 ml of good vodka, aged for two weeks. To filter. Add the same amount of tincture of calendula and 3 tablespoons of peach oil. In case of periodontal disease and bleeding from the gums, impregnate gauze napkins with the composition and apply them to the gums. Repeat until the symptoms disappear.

With uterine bleeding

Pour a tablespoon of dry arnica with a glass of boiled water only and leave to infuse for 4 hours. Drink 50 ml 3 to 4 times a day.

With joint injuries and hematomas

To relieve pain and swelling with joint injury or an extensive hematoma, lotions based on arnica are made. To prepare a solution for lotions, 2 tablespoons of flowers pour 300 ml of water, bring to a boil, turn off and remove from the stove. After 30 minutes, the healing composition is ready. Soak gauze or a cloth in it and attach to a sore joint. In the first couple of days, make cold lotions, and when the swelling decreases, switch to warm ones - they will have a resolving effect.

With cholecystitis

Brew a tablespoon of Arnica inflorescences with 250 ml of boiling water in a dousing mug, cover and place in a water bath. Soar the composition for 15 minutes, then remove and leave for 45 minutes, then filter. A single dose - a tablespoon diluted in 50-100 ml of milk, repeat the intake after each meal - 3 times a day. Such an infusion has choleretic properties.

With angina pectoris

Prepare a decoction from the roots of arnica, for which take 2 teaspoons of raw materials and pour them with 2 cups of water, put in a simmer for about 5 minutes. Then cover with a saucer or lid and insist an hour. Take a filtered broth before breakfast and dinner for a tablespoon.

With epilepsy and brain disorders

Finely chop a tablespoon of fresh Arnica flowers, pour them with 100 ml of good vodka, then send to infuse in a dark place for 3-4 weeks. Filter and drink 3-4 times a day for 30-40 drops, diluting them in a small amount of water.

With gastric diseases

Take an equal in volume amount of fresh arnica and vodka inflorescences (a glass of arnica per glass of vodka). Infuse for 2 weeks, then strain twice through linen.

To improve the condition of gastric diseases and relieve attacks of general weakness, drip a few drops of the resulting composition in a tablespoon of water. Take as needed.

Types of healing compounds

Ointments, gels, creams, massage oil and homeopathic granules based on arnica are widely represented in pharmacies. But they contain various additional components, due to which allergic reactions are possible. Therefore, it is possible to prepare medicinal compounds at home.

Infusion

Scalp a tablespoon of arnica flowers with a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Strain through cheesecloth and can be prepared on the basis of this infusion lotions, wraps, compresses. To avoid possible irritation on the skin, first dilute the product with water - add two-thirds of the water in half or one third of the infusion.

Tincture

Grind 60–80 g of fresh arnica flowers (or 2 tablespoons). Pour them with a half liter of alcohol 70%. Insist for 3-4 weeks in an opaque glass bottle in a dark room (or in a cupboard). Strain. It will turn a greenish-brown liquid, bitter in taste. When taking it inside, dilute with water or milk. For compresses, dilute with water: take 1 part tincture for 1 part tincture.

Tea

1. Arnica tea can be drunk by patients suffering from heart diseases, and then only if it is prescribed by the attending physician. Other people with such tea can gargle or make compresses based on it. To make tea, pour 2 teaspoons of dried arnica flowers with a quarter liter of boiling water. Strain after 10 minutes. Gargling is better with warm tea.
2. Take equally chamomile and arnica flowers, grind them in a mortar and brew them in a teapot, like regular tea. Brew for 15 to 20 minutes, then pour into cups and drink. To make it tastier, add sugar or honey. You can drink such tea with rheumatism, gout, diarrhea.

Ointment

Arnica ointment is effective in treating gout, rheumatism, varicose veins, bruises, injuries, sprains, bruises and abrasions. It eliminates pain, relieves the inflammatory process.

Dissolve in a water bath 20 g of shea butter and beeswax and 25 g of coconut oil. Pour 150 ml of arnica and St. John's wort oil into the same composition, as well as 2/3 cup of water. After removing the mixture from the water bath, pour it into a blender. While the beeswax has not hardened, begin to whip the ointment at low speeds. From this amount of starting products, approximately 300 g of arnica oil should be obtained. When the mass is mixed, transfer it to a glass jar. If desired, you can add a little extract of rosemary, this will extend the shelf life of the product.

Butter

Arnica oil is also called macerate. This product with a weak pleasant aroma is good for massage. It is often used by athletes to relieve muscle pain after intense training. It helps to recover faster after sprain, bruises, dislocations, inflammatory processes in the muscles. It is recommended for hemorrhoids, muscle cramps, varicose veins and circulatory disorders, the so-called fragile vessels, when a person is prone to frequent bruising and bruising. Oil well prepares the body for a session of manual therapy, helps with radiculitis, arthritic pain. It is also used to strengthen hair.

Get oil from Arnica flowers, insisting them in any vegetable oil. It is better to take an odorless olive or sunflower. A liter of oil requires 50 g of dried arnica flowers. Mix them in one container and insist for 1.5–2 weeks. During this time, the plant will give all the useful components and get a viscous composition of dark red or orange-yellow color and a greenish tint.

Use oil only for external use, while you can not smear them with abrasions, scratches and other open wounds.

Application in cosmetology

For cosmetic purposes, arnica has been used for a long time. Back in the Middle Ages, her miraculous ability to solve aesthetic problems was noted.They are mainly based on the venotonic property of the plant and the ability to reduce the so-called vascular asterisks, hemorrhages and bruises.

In addition, cosmetology uses the anti-inflammatory capabilities of Arnica. Arnitsin, which is part of it, increases the ability of the skin to withstand external negative effects. And the vitamins and antioxidants contained in the plant have a rejuvenating effect and give antibacterial properties based on it.

Traditionally, arnica is used to restore sunburned skin, to remove redness and peeling that has arisen in connection with this, to treat a superficial burn.

Recently, the possibilities of Arnica's agents to lighten the skin thanks to the triterpene acids contained in it, which have a powerful ability to suppress melanin synthesis, have been identified. Therefore, this healing plant can also be used in the fight against hyperpigmentation.

But before using cosmetics based on arnica for cosmetic purposes, you need to do a sensitivity test, since a medicinal plant has an allergenic effect and may not be suitable for everyone.

Decoction for problem skin

Broth need to wipe the skin with acne, blackheads, redness. It is especially effective in adolescence, when these problems are especially pronounced.

To prepare the broth, pour 2 tablespoons of dry arnica with boiling water and hold the composition in a water bath for about 15 minutes. After cooling, strain and can be used before diluting in half with milk or water.

Acne Lotion

This composition helps remove acne and acne.

Insist on good vodka Arnica flowers, take 10 parts of vodka for one part of dry medicinal raw materials. Insist a week, strain and wipe the areas affected by the rash once a day.

Oily Skin Lotion

Pour a glass of boiling water with a mixture of arnica and sage (take them in a tablespoon). Infuse the composition for half an hour, strain and pour 30 ml of vodka into it. The resulting lotion to wipe the skin in the morning and evening.

Hair lotion

This remedy fights against dandruff, oily hair and improves their growth.

A tablespoon of dried arnica flowers pour 100 g of alcohol. Insist a week in a dark place. Dilute with water before use: take 4 parts of the liquid for one part of the composition, and then rub into the scalp twice a week.

From hair loss

Prepare tincture from a tablespoon of dry arnica per 100 g of alcohol. Take 1 part tincture and add 5 parts burdock, castor or corn oil to it, mix. Twice a week for half an hour before washing the head, rub the composition into the scalp. With regular use, hair growth accelerates, hair loss stops.

Hair conditioner

Pour a tablespoon of inflorescences with 2 cups of boiling water, insist until the composition is warm, then strain and rinse their hair to give them a more healthy look. Effectively repeating the course 1-2 times a week.

From stretch marks

Rubbing arnica-based oils or ointments into the skin of the abdomen prevents stretch marks during pregnancy, and if they already exist, reduces their manifestation.

Apply a healing agent from 3 to 4 times a day.

Wrinkle

To refresh the skin and give it a younger look, you can apply ointment prepared at home 1-2 times a week. Why do I need to melt in a water bath 25 g of coconut oil, 20 g of shea butter and beeswax, a cup of St. John's wort and arnica oil, 2/3 cup of water. To soften the ointment, add a teaspoon of calendula oil to it.

Remove the mixture from the water bath, mix thoroughly and pour into a blender. While the beeswax has not hardened, begin to whip the ointment at low speeds. From this amount of starting products, approximately 300 g of arnica oil should be obtained. When the mass is mixed, transfer it to a glass jar. But in its pure form, it is better not to apply the ointment to the face.It is better to mix in a cup a teaspoon of ointment with a single dose of the usual face cream, and apply this composition to the skin.

Contraindications

When using arnica-based compounds externally, allergic reactions are possible: redness, rash, itching, burning. In these cases, you must immediately stop using the product and consult a doctor.

It should be borne in mind that when using arnica inside, constipation is possible. In addition, the internal use of medicinal formulations with arnica is contraindicated in those who have marked increased blood coagulability; they should not be drunk by pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.

You can not use drugs based on arnica uncontrollably. Be sure to consult your doctor and strictly observe the recommended dosage and duration of treatment. In no case should they be exceeded! Otherwise, poisoning is possible, which is manifested by increased sweating, aching legs and cramps of the calf muscles, shortness of breath, chills, nausea, vomiting, and discomfort in the abdomen. It is possible a decline in the activity of the cardiovascular system. If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor!

Arnica photo